Americans for the Arts would like prospective 2012 NAMP Conference attendees to know that we are disappointed with the recent Amendment One vote in North Carolina which adds North Carolina to thirty other states in establishing a ban on same-sex marriages. While we disagree with the position taken by the majority of voters in North Carolina, we are heartened that Charlotte, in particular, and Mecklenburg County overall voted against Amendment One. Furthermore, the mayor of Charlotte and a host of other local political and business leaders came out in opposition to Amendment One.

Charlotte is a welcoming city with a diverse community that values arts and culture. We, as well as our peers and NAMP Conference local hosts at the Arts & Science Council, know a national gathering of more than 500 arts marketing professionals can help educate and inform the leaders in North Carolina about how developing messages and techniques for reaching citizens can be valuable for many reasons. We welcome participants of all sexual orientation, gender, age, physical ability, ethnicity, and religion.

Let us gather in Charlotte to reaffirm the power of the arts to celebrate diversity and inclusion in our communities.