CHARLOTTE, NC — The Supreme Court makes another historic and unexpected decision regarding same-sex marriage.
The court cleared the way Monday for legal same-sex marriages in five more states. And several more, including North and South Carolina, could soon have to lift their bans.
“Lifting this marriage ban and finally, at last, having the freedom to marry in North Carolina will be nothing short of life changing for a lot of these couples,” says Mike Meno with the North Carolina ACLU.
The Supreme Court on Monday decided to stay out of the debate on same-sex marriage. By refusing to hear cases brought by five states, decisions by lower courts stand, for now.
Those rulings declared bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, which essentially throws out North Carolina’s Amendment One.
“We’re disappointed with the ruling, because it goes against the will of the people in the most recent referendum,” says North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. “But I’m going to respect the process, and we’ll see how the process continues to proceed.”
Monday’s action could make same-sex marriage legal in 30 states.
One of the appeals involved a Virginia case heard by the Fourth Circuit. Because the Carolinas fall under the same appeals court that struck down Virginia’s ban, same-sex couples here could soon be applying for marriage licenses.
North Carolina currently has several cases challenging Amendment One, including one filed by a group of Charlotte ministers.
“We have four cases in North Carolina,” says North Carolina Attorney General Roy Copper. “All of the judges in those cases have stayed those cases pending a decision by the United states Supreme Court.”
“We still need a court order from a North Carolina judge before the ban is struck down, and couples can have their marriages recognized in North Carolina,” says Meno. “But we are now hopeful that we are talking about a matter of days.”
State and federal judges have ruled 39 times in the past year in favor of the expanded marriage rights. Only two have upheld existing laws.
