North Carolina
North Carolina
Relationships
The state constitution prohibits marriage between same-sex couples. Amended in 2012 to read: “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.” See Article 14 §6.
State statute prohibits marriage between same-sex couples. See N.C. General Statutes §51-1.2.
Workplace
All government employees are protected by the U.S. Constitution against irrational discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition, some measure of protection already exists under Title VII based on gender, which has been held to include gender identity and expression.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and several courts have interpreted Title VII to protect transgender employees, and the EEOC has interpreted Title VII to cover sexual orientation discrimination. The Supreme Court has held that the EEOC's interpretations of Title VII are entitled to "great deference."
Parenting
Any adult. But if the petitioner is unmarried, no other person may join. See N.C. Gen. Stat. 48-1-103, 48-2-301.
No longer available. Second-parent adoptions were ruled invalid and an adoptive mom’s adoption order was voided based on the state supreme court’s determination in Boseman v. Jarrell,704 S.E.2d 494 (N.C. 2010). However, the Boseman court granted the former adoptive mother standing to seek custody of her child based on her former partner’s actions in creating and fostering a parent-child relationship. Non-legal parents may be able to protect their relationship with their child in the event of a breakup in reliance on Boseman v. Jarrell and other cases. We strongly advise consulting a family lawyer familiar with LGBT issues as soon as you and your partner decide to both become parents.
Generally hostile climate for lesbians and gay men, as seen in the custody decision of Pulliam v. Smith, 501 S.E.2d 898 (N.C. 1998).
Hostile climate for lesbians and gay men, as seen in the custody decision Pulliam v. Smith, 501 S.E.2d 898 (N.C. 1998).
