North Carolina
Relationship Recognition Information
Statewide Relationship Recognition
| no |
Licenses marriages for same-sex couples. |
| no |
Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions. |
| no |
Relationship recognition for same-sex couples: None. |
- 1996 Anti-marriage bill adopted. Senate Bill 1302 introduced by Sen. James Forrester (R) on May 23, 1996. Declares that “[m]arriages contracted or performed outside of North Carolina between persons of the same gender are not valid in Iredell County.” Amended to add eleven other counties. (The bill was a backdoor attempt to circumvent legislative rules, hence the characterization as a local bill with application to one county.) Passed without hearings in House and Senate, became law automatically. See N.C. General Statutes §51-1.2.
Employment Information
Statewide Employment Protections
| no |
Private employment protections based on sexual orientation. |
| no |
Private employment protections based on gender identity. |
| no |
Public (state) employment protections based on sexual orientation. |
| - |
Public (state) employment protections based on gender identity. |
See N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 131A-8 (2001), 143-422.2 (2001) and 41A-4 (2001).
Parenting Information
Statewide Parenting Laws
| Who May Adopt |
Any adult. N.C. Gen. Stat. 48-1-103. But if petitioner is unmarried, no other person may join. N.C. Gen. Stat. 48-2-301. |
| Second Parent Adoptions |
Not yet permitted. |
| Notes |
Hostile climate for lesbians and gay men as seen in the custody decision, Pulliam v. Smith, 501 S.E.2d 898 (N.C. 1998). |
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