Gay-rights activists across North Carolina collected a win last week when the NC National Guard announced they would now recognize same-sex marriages.

This action will extend federal benefits to all same-sex couples involved in the National Guard.  This comes just three months after the Supreme Court voted to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996, which prevented any recognition of gay marriage whatsoever by federal agencies.

“I have no problem with the sexual orientation a person chooses, as long as that orientation does not affect the mission,” said Robert Carmichael, the Vice President of UNC Wilmington’s Student Veterans Organizations.  “Personal issues can creep into the workplace no matter the marriage type, so, to me, why should we place a discrimination against someone due to their preference?”   

The United States Department of Defense also penned an order back in August that forced states to recognize same-sex marriages if a couple apply for benefits.

The state of North Carolina currently holds a Constitutional amendment, ratified last year, ruling that marriage will only be recognized between a man and a woman. But a spokesperson for Governor Pat McCrory made a statement saying the state will follow the order by the Pentagon to allow federal financial benefits as the money won’t be coming from the state budget. 

This change will bring financial benefits to same-sex couples, but also health benefits and “first-of-kin” notification of a spouse’s death during service.  Prior to this announcement, the spouse of gay soldier would not have been notified by the state if that soldier was killed in combat.

Sophomore honors student Charissa Wright spoke out, and said, “I think it’s inhumane not to notify a spouse and cruel not to acknowledge they may have a relationship, but from a personal standpoint, I do not believe in gay marriage.  I believe in the biblical stance of marriage and do not believe they should receive all the same benefits as a heterosexual couple.”

“I think it’s fantastic whenever a group achieves the quality and recognition of something as basic as their relationships and we extend respect to other people’s relationships,” said Amy Schlag, Program Coordinator for UNCW’s LGBTQIA. 

She also stated that the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act over the summer is just the tip of the iceberg in working towards complete equality–now it must be fought at the state level across the nation.