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CHARLOTTE, NC – Nearly two dozen same sex couples in Asheville and Raleigh said their ‘I Do’s”, just hours after a judge gave the unions the green light.
The number of states allowing gay marriage jumped from 19 to 32 in a matter of days.
On Monday morning, same-sex couples in Mecklenburg County will get their first chance to get a marriage license.
“They have been paying taxes, they have been working in the state of North Carolina and North Carolina is now finally recognizing them as full citizens,” said Pastor Nancy Ellett Allison.
Allison was one of the ministers who filed the lawsuit to challenge Amendment One. The clergy argued the ban violated their religious right to marry gay couples in their congregation.
“Jesus said nothing negative about homosexuality so I think Jesus would be delighted that gays and lesbians are also a part of that covenant making institution,” said Allison.
Ministers expect their schedule will be booked with weddings next week.
But with the celebrations come just as much disappointment.
“It’s very disappointing to see an institution that is thousands and thousands of years old be simply upended by essentially a single judge here in North Carolina,” said David Haines with the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
Haines says the Catholic Church will not perform same sex weddings or bless same-sex unions.
Haines points to Amendment One passed on May 8, 2012.
At that time, more than one million voters supported it and defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
“The court has essentially rejected the will of 1.3 million people in North Carolina,” said Haines.
