Plaintiffs Include UU Congregations
Two Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations in North Carolina (Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church, Charlotte and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville) have joined the suit against the state of North Carolina led by the United Church of Christ (UCC) as plaintiffs, claiming that North Carolina Amendment One (NC Amendment 1), which bans same-sex couples from wedding, not only deprives citizens of equal treatment under the law as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, but also deprives religious denominations of their 1st Amendment right by impeding the free exercise of religion. NC Amendment 1 makes it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. The UCC, as well as Unitarian Universalism supports marriage equality; by conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies they are violation of this law.
Learn about Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) support of issues of Social Justice
This novel challenge to state laws banning same-sex marriage aims to establish a legal precedent other defenders of same-sex marriage can use in the 33 states that still do not recognize marriage equality. READ MORE ABOUT IT: Amendment One Lawsuit website A Group of People You'd Least Expect Are Fighting for Gay Marriage in North Carolina (Policy Mic blog) UCC Challenges North Carolina Ban on Gay Marriage (NPR)North Carolina’s Gay-Marriage Ban Is Challenged by Church (NY Times)