Oct 12, 2014

Equality NC Responds to Statements from Iredell Register of Deeds

RALEIGH, N.C. (October 12, 2014) - Responding to a Sunday article from the Statesville Record & Landmark reporting that Matt McCall, Iredell County’s Register of Deeds, said he is unsure whether the Friday marriage equality ruling applies to his office, Equality NC issued the following statement:

"The fundamental freedom to marry is now the law of the land in North Carolina and on Monday, the first full day of marriage equality in North Carolina, we expect couples in all 100 North Carolina counties to be able to marry at their local register of deeds office," said Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality NC. "If any state official, including a register of deeds, attempts to refuse or refuses to carry out the duties of his or her office, as required by state and federal law, they can and should be removed from office. Sgro added "The time for playing politics with our families is over, as is anyone's ability to prevent loving and committed North Carolina couples from marrying in the state they call home."

On Friday, Equality NC hosted weddings for North Carolina couples in Wake and Guilford counties, who remained open late to facilitate the late-breaking ruling. The organization will host additional events on Monday, October 13, in Wake, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Orange, Durham, Cumberland, and Catawba counties.

Equality NC has asked that couples who face problems in applying for marriage licenses email the organization's legal team at enc@equalitync.org.

ABOUT EQUALITY NC: Equality NC is the statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians.