Update: Governor McCrory has vetoed the bill. Unfortunately, the legislature may vote to override the veto.

A bill (SB 2) that would exempt certain public officials from issuing marriage licenses without fear of losing their jobs if doing so “would violate their core religious beliefs” has passed in North Carolina's legislature and now awaits action from Governor McCrory.

We join Equality Federation member Equality North Carolina in calling upon the Governor to veto the bill. 

Equality North Carolina executive director Chris Sgro condemned the passage of the bill, noting it's broad implications.

"While the legislation does not specifically single out same-gender couples, opening the door for magistrates to also turn away interracial, interfaith, and other couples, the legislation's purpose is clear: to rehire and protect magistrates who wish to use their personal beliefs to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples seeking marriage licenses," said Sgro.

“At a time when the N.C. General Assembly should be taking up job protections that apply to all North Carolinians, legislative leaders have instead chosen to waste precious time and resources giving a few anti-LGBT North Carolina magistrates a license to discriminate against taxpaying North Carolina families. We call on Gov. McCrory to veto this discriminatory legislation and send a strong message to the N.C. General Assembly that no public official is exempt from the constitution they’ve sworn to uphold.”