An anti-marriage amendment in North Carolina is close to passing with voters casting their ballots on Tuesday, May 8. The initiative would have far-reaching consequences, as Chelsea Clinton said today in an email to Protect All North Carolina Families, the campaign to defeat Amendment One:

Many North Carolinians will lose health care, domestic violence protections, end of life and visitation benefits, and face other serious consequences due to the political agenda of those who offered up the legislation.  Those consequences will not discriminate – they will fall on the young, the old, the gay, the straight, men, women, professionals, line workers, union workers.  Some of those are my friends – some are your friends, your neighbors, and perhaps even members of your own family.

In this election, voter turnout is everything. Here’s what you can do:

• Make a donation to help educate voters and get out the vote. The campaign is only a few thousand dollars away from hitting their goal

• Post a message on Facebook and Twitter. Tell your friends what is at stake and encourage them to donate too.
  Sample message:  I am standing with @protectNC to defeat #amendment1, join me http://bit.ly/donate2prtnc
  More social media actions >

• If you are in North Carolina, sign up to get out the vote.  Several hundred people are needed to go door to door, talking with voters and making sure they know the real consequences of passing Amendment One.

It is up to each of us, no matter where we are, to do what we can to make sure initiatives like this do not succeed.