Tim Stanley : But now we know the limits of the South 's social liberalism : The N.C. vote to ban same-sex marriage goes far , includes civil partnerships . He says socially liberal initiatives often move slowly -- the Equal Rights Amendment , for example . He says ERA became a line in the sand for the right ; too few states ended up supporting it . Stanley : " It was an important step forward because of its symbolic importance and because it made clear that there is no place for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in our society.
Tim Stanley : The N.C. vote to ban same-sex marriage goes far , includes civil partnerships . He says socially liberal initiatives often move slowly -- the Equal Rights Amendment , for example . He says ERA became a line in the sand for the right ; too few states ended up supporting it . Stanley : " It was an important step forward because of its symbolic importance and because it made clear that there is no place for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in our society.