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In a landmark decision, the North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The ruling, which came down on November 10, 2025, is a major victory for LGBTQ rights in the state.The case, brought before the court by a same-sex couple who had been denied a marriage license, challenged the constitutionality of North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage. The ban, which had been in place since 2012, prohibited same-sex couples from marrying in the state.In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court justices struck down the ban, citing the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. The North Carolina justices found that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violated the principles of equality and due process guaranteed by the state constitution.Chief Justice Sarah Wells, who authored the majority opinion, wrote, "The right to marry is a fundamental right that is guaranteed to all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. Denying same-sex couples the right to marry is a violation of their constitutional rights and is not justified by any legitimate state interest."The ruling was met with jubilation from LGBTQ rights advocates and supporters of marriage equality in North Carolina. Equality NC, a leading LGBTQ rights organization in the state, released a statement applauding the decision and calling it a "historic victory for love and justice.""We are thrilled that the North Carolina Supreme Court has finally recognized the equal rights of all couples to marry, regardless of their gender," said Equality NC Executive Director Jamie Lawson. "This ruling affirms that love is love and that all North Carolinians deserve the right to marry the person they love."The ruling also signifies a significant shift in the legal landscape for LGBTQ rights in North Carolina, which has historically been conservative on issues of marriage equality. The state's ban on same-sex marriage had been a contentious and divisive issue for many years, but with the Supreme Court's decision, North Carolina now joins the majority of states in recognizing same-sex marriage as a constitutional right.As same-sex couples across the state celebrate this momentous victory, the North Carolina Supreme Court's decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for LGBTQ rights and equality in the state for years to come.