It's official, marriage wins out - for most. North Carolina voters have approved the measure to block same-sex marriage, the amendement goes into effect Jan. 1.

Turnout, fueled largely by the polarization on the marriage debate, was the largest for a primary in decades, election officials said. North Carolina becomes, the 31st overall state, and the last Southern state to pass the amendment. Eight states, and the District of Columbia, have passed laws allowing same-sex marriage.

There is much scuttlebutt surrounding the outcome both on Facebook and buzzing around town this morning. I heard the same rhetoric from different generations about the issue, both in the parking lot at preschool, and while shopping for Mother's Day gifts at Bell's Seed Store.

Last Sunday many churches were reminding voters what they stood for by reading Genesis 2:24- For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

There appears to be a national shift on the attitude toward the controversial issue of same-sex marriage with younger voters supporting the freedom of choice.

At a few polls I visited yesterday, many 17-year-old voters showed up bearing t-shirts to vote against the marriage amendment, but were surprised to find out they could only vote on the primary ballot choices, excluding the amendment.

Church and State?

On Tuesday in an Army Times Report, Rep. Todd Akin, of Missouri, is proposing an amendment where service members and Chaplains can openly oppose alternative lifestyles and oppose gay service members serving alongside them.

The two part amendment is to counter the 2011 repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for the military. One portion is for active duty service members and the second for chaplains.

For chaplains, it would prohibit anyone from ordering a chaplain to perform any duty, rite or ceremony that is “contrary to the conscience, moral principal or religious beliefs” of either the chaplain or of the faith group sponsoring the chaplain.

At a time when our economy is not at its best, and people are out of work, why does this issue keep rising to the top?