North Carolina recognizes neither same-sex marriages nor any other form of legal recognition of same sex-unions. The state bans same-sex marriage by state statute, though there is currently no constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions implanted at this time. However, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage as well as civil unions was passed by the NC House of Representatives on September 12, 2011 and by the NC Senate one day later on September 13, 2011. The constitutional amendment will appear on the May 8, 2012 primary ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions in North Carolina will come into effect.[1]
Based on a poll, 76 percent of those surveyed support a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage and similar unions.[2] In another poll, over half of North Carolina residents would oppose a ban on same-sex marriage, though the majority does not support granting full marriage rights to same-sex couples.[3][4] 27.5% of those polled support civil unions or registered partnerships providing most of the rights found in a civil marriage, and 20.8% of those polled support full same-sex marriage. 44.4% oppose any form of legal recognition for same-sex couples.[5]
Contents |
Though the state of North Carolina as a whole does not recognize domestic partnerships, individual jurisdictions are allowed to register domestic partnerships with no stipulation on the sex of the individuals involved.[6] Only the cities of Chapel Hill[7](open to all applicants regardless of residency)[8] and Carrboro (residency of Carrboro is required)[9] recognize and issue such registration within the state. Both cities are under the Jurisdiction of Orange County, NC. Domestic partnerships registrations have been open since 1995 . Holders of the registration will only be acknowledged as having entered the agreement by the jurisdiction that the holders originally registered with. The official ordinance for the city of Chapel Hill reads as follows.
Be it ordained by the Town Council of Chapel Hill that the Council amends Chapter 1 of the Town Code as follows:
Section 1
Add to Section 1-2, Definitions and rules of construction, a new paragraph in appropriate alphabetical order to read as follows:
Domestic partners. Two individuals who have reached the age of majority and live together in a long-term relationship of indefinite duration, with an exclusive mutual commitment in which the partners share the necessities of life and are financially interdependent. Also, domestic partners are not married to anyone else, do not have another domestic partner and are not related by blood more closely than would bar their marriage in this State.
Section 2
This ordinance shall be effective upon adoption.[10]
On Feb. 22, 2011, City Council of Asheville (Buncombe County, NC), authorized the creation of a Domestic Partner Registry to recognize same-sex relationships, becoming the first city in Western North Carolina (WNC) to do so, providing a mechanism through which hospitals, businesses, and other entities will have the opportunity to recognize those relationships.[11]
Public Policy Polling surveyed 520 North Carolina voters from September 1st to 4th, 2011 and received the following results.[12]
| Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal? | Their Opinion |
|---|---|
| Legal | 31% |
| Illegal | 61% |
| Not sure | 8% |
| Which of the following best describes your opinion on gay marriage? | Their Opinion |
|---|---|
| Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry | 25% |
| Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry | 29% |
| There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship | 43% |
| Not sure | 3% |
| State legislators are trying to pass a Constitutional amendment that would prohibit the recognition of marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships for LGBT couples. If the election was held today, how would you vote for this amendment? | Their Opinion |
|---|---|
| Would vote for it | 30% |
| Would vote against it | 55% |
| Not sure | 15% |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||