North Carolina
For many years now, the North Carolina state legislature has stopped family opponents from trying to write marriage discrimination into the state constitution. State advocacy groups and citizens across North Carolina continue to work towards ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.
WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
Equality North Carolina
Equality North Carolina is a statewide advocacy organization that
works to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender North Carolinians.
Pam's House Blend
The Blend was launched in July 2004 by North Carolina resident Pam
Spaulding to discuss, "the state of issues that affect my life as an
out lesbian — the right not to lose my job because I am gay, the
right to marry." The Blend was honored as "Best LGBT Blog" in the 2005
and 2006 Weblog Awards.
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LEGISLATIVE STATUS IN NORTH CAROLINA:
Your Community—North Carolina
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
HRC presents resources, news, and the current marriage and
relationship recognition laws in each state.
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PUBLICATIONS:
Geographic Trends Among Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. Census and the
American Community Survey
Williams Institute
November 2007
Gary Gates at the Williams Institute released groundbreaking research
on the geographic trends among same-sex couples. The report finds the
biggest increases in Southern and Mountain states and states barring
legal acceptance of same-sex couples had larger percentage increases
in same-sex couples from 2000 to 2006.
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NEWS:
BLOG: NC: same-sex partners granted hospital visitation
Some good news on the civil rights front...NC ensures gay hospital visitation rights.
BLOG: NC pastor asks why religion is being used to deny marriage to
gays and lesbians
Pam's House Blend
July 17, 2007
Rev. Reggie Longcrier, pastor of Exodus Missionary Outreach Church in
Hickory, NC, submitted a question on marriage equality for the CNN's
YouTube Presidential debate. It's a powerful, short and simple video.
OPINION: The constitution is not the place to make law
The News and Observer
March 9, 2007
Putting gay and lesbian couples' relationships in the political arena
scarcely helps anyone. It gives grandstanding pols a chance to show
off, but it's hard to argue that a little tolerance of differing views
on the issue threatens the American family structure. It's even harder
to make a case for an unnecessary constitutional amendment.
Week intended to highlight inequality faced by gays
RelishNow
February 8, 2007
Freedom to Marry Week was established 10 years ago. Each February, we
remind our fellow citizens of the fundamental unfairness of marriage
inequality and try to win their support. We hope to reach the
"reachables" — straight folks who allow themselves to be educated and
can ignore religious and social prejudices — by telling our stories.
This is mine:
Domestic partner benefits delayed by legal confusion
Yes Weekly
October 12, 2005
In Greensboro, NC officials must wait for guidance from the state
attorney general to sort through conflicting legal opinions before
moving forward with a proposal to extend domestic partner benefits to
city employers.
Anti-gay measure blocked in North Carolina
365Gay.com
September 2, 2005
For the second year in a row, the North Carolina legislature rejected
a proposed constitutional amendment attacking same-sex couples. "This
is a huge victory for LGBT North Carolinians," said Equality North
Carolina spokesperson Ian Palmquist, "but our work is far from over."
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Why Marriage Matters America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry.
By Evan Wolfson
Read reviews! Purchase the book or receive a signed copy as a thank you for your donation!
Read families’ stories about how marriage discrimination affects everyday life. These stories communicate, in concrete ways, how the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage hurts families and helps no one.
Start in The Marriage Basics to get short answers to your big questions about the freedom to marry, and learn more about the protections and responsibilities of marriage, the historical background for this civil rights movement, why separate is not equal, and so much more.
