Jun 26, 2015
Equality NC Responds to Historic Marriage Ruling
North Carolina's largest LGBT advocacy organization calls decision “a historic moment”
RALEIGH, N.C. - Equality NC, North Carolina’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, responded today to a U.S. Supreme Court’s [5-4] ruling granting marriage equality to the entire country.
The Supreme Court’s historic decision in Oberfegell vs. Hodges effectively strikes down bans on the freedom to marry in 13 states and provides a national resolution to the issue of marriage equality.
Chris Sgro, Equality NC’s executive director, called this "a historic day" for the United States and the state of North Carolina."Today's ruling granting loving, same-sex couples the freedom to marry across our United States is a historic moment for our country, and for tens of thousands of same-sex families who call our state home," said Sgro. "With it, gays and lesbians in every corner of the United States will finally be able to marry the person they love. Today, love won and we celebrate all who have worked tirelessly over many decades to change hearts and minds and make this ruling a possibility.”
On October 10, 2014 North Carolina became the 29th state to win the freedom to marry. This month, the legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to pass legislation allowing certain public officials to recuse themselves from marrying same-sex couples.
Sgro added, “Even as we celebrate, we know our progress does not and will not end at the Supreme Court. Same-sex couples can legally marry in North Carolina—and the very same day, be denied public services, fired from their job or denied housing simply because of who they are. With these harsh realities in mind, Equality NC remains committed to fighting for full equality for LGBT North Carolinians wherever they work or live.”
In light of the rulings, Equality NC and our partners throughout the state will host “Decision Day” events today. Community members, media, and elected officials can RSVP participation and learn exact times for these events at equalitync.org/marriage.
Equality NC is a statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians.