Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against North Carolina's Same-Sex Marriage Opt-Out Law (Video)

@ 2026 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All rights reserved

Judge Dismisses Case Against N.C.'s Same-Sex Marriage Opt-Out Law
U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn argued the plaintiffs failed to prove they were harmed by the law that allows officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if they cite religious objections.
 Dawn Ennis
          
          Sep 22, 2016
          
        
Dawn Ennis
The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.
 See Full Bio 
                  Follow:
                  

        
        FROM OUR SPONSORS
        
    

        
        The Latest
        
    
News
        New true crime documentary solves 1990 murder of gay porn star
    The unsolved murder, dubbed the "gay Black Dahlia," was cracked wide open by director Rachel Mason after 25 years.
Ariel Messman-Rucker
News
        A Martin Scorsese amour fou: The most satisfying bombshell from Liza's dishy new memoir
    In Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, the legendary performer details descending into an impassioned, drug-fueled affair with the filmmaker during the filming of the 1977 movie musical New York, New York.
Elaina Patton
News
        Don Lemon wants queer people to stand up to bullies: ‘Punch them in the nose’
    The award-winning journalist isn't backing down despite what the current administration throws at him.
Ricky Cornish
News
        'Heated Rivalry's meteoric rise blamed for anti-LGBTQ+ bullying on high school hockey teams
    A civil rights group claims that backlash to the show's popularity has caused an uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ hate from fellow players and coaches. 
Ariel Messman-Rucker

        
        More For You
        
        These LGBTQ+ married couples aren’t afraid to show their love
    
Ryan Adamczeski
Feb 14, 2026
A new campaign from GLAAD aims to spotlight queer married couples, asking for submissions from those whose lives have been made better by having the legal right to marry.

        Shutterstock Creative
    
        As conservatives push to overturn marriage equality, LGBTQ+ couples are uniting to show that their love is stronger. Keep Reading →

        Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger sends marriage equality & abortion rights amendments to voters
    
Christopher Wiggins
Feb 06, 2026
LGBTQ+ advocates and Virginia legislators applaud Gov. Abigail Spanberger as she signs legislation that will place the issue of enshrining marriage equality into the state's constitution before the voters.

        Office of Gov. Abigail Spanberger/Screenshot
    
        With advocates at her side and an eye on a volatile national legal landscape, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger Friday signed legislation sending a slate of constitutional amendments to voters, including a measure that would finally erase the state’s ban on same-sex marriages and replace it with an affirmative right to marriage equality. Keep Reading →

        Virginia ICE agents nab gay Panamanian immigrant at routine check-in, man’s U.S. citizen husband says
    
Christopher Wiggins
Jan 14, 2026
A gay couple in Washington, D.C., has been seperated after one of the husbands was detained by ICE.

        WRC-TV/Screenshot
    
        A Washington, D.C., gay couple says they have been plunged into legal and emotional limbo after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained one husband during what had long been treated as a routine immigration check-in. Keep Reading →

        Anti-LGBTQ+ Republican congressman from California dies suddenly
    
Christopher Wiggins
Jan 06, 2026
U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican, has died at 65.

        Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
    
        U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican lawmaker representing California, whose career included his opposition to marriage equality and transgender rights, died suddenly this week at 65, according to the House GOP. His death further narrows an already fragile Republican majority in the U.S. House and removes a central figure in the party’s escalating campaign against trans rights. Keep Reading →

        Texas judge who refused to officiate same-sex weddings sues to overturn marriage equality
    
Ryan Adamczeski
Dec 22, 2025
A judge in Texas who refused to perform weddings for same-sex couples has filed a lawsuit asking federal courts to overturn marriage equality. 

        Shuttershock Creative
    
        A judge in Texas who refused to perform weddings for same-sex couples has filed a lawsuit asking federal courts to overturn marriage equality. Keep Reading →

        Most Popular
        
Crime
        Many alleged suicides of Black trans women are in fact modern-day lynchings, report finds
    Jill Collen Jefferson, the founder of JULIAN, explains what happens when a transgender woman’s death is ruled a suicide and a community calls it something else.
Christopher Wiggins
Politics
        Charlie Kirk DID say stoning gay people was the 'perfect law' — and these other heinous quotes
    These are some of his worst comments about LGBTQ+ people made by Charlie Kirk.
Ryan Adamczeski
Elections
        Anti-LGBTQ+ Congressman Dan Crenshaw ousted by more extreme candidate in Texas GOP primary
    The Texas Republican championed a federal ban on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for minors.
Christopher Wiggins
States
        New Hampshire House advances transgender bathroom bill, breaking with New England
    The Republican-led legislation places the state increasingly out of step with the rest of New England on trans rights.
Christopher Wiggins
National
        Outraged Ben Shapiro says Candace Owens documentary labels Erika Kirk a ‘lesbian pedophile’
    The far-right influencer for months accused the CEO of Turning Point USA of being involved in her husband, Charlie Kirk's, murder.
Jacob Ogles
States
        Texas AG Ken Paxton says ban on gender-affirming care for trans kids also applies to talk therapy
    Mental health care providers in Texas risk their license if they deliver care related to transitioning to minors, the Republican attorney general who is running for U.S. Senate wrote.
Jacob Ogles

Site Navigation

Judge Dismisses Case Against N.C.'s Same-Sex Marriage Opt-Out Law

U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn argued the plaintiffs failed to prove they were harmed by the law that allows officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if they cite religious objections.

The Latest

New true crime documentary solves 1990 murder of gay porn star

The unsolved murder, dubbed the "gay Black Dahlia," was cracked wide open by director Rachel Mason after 25 years.

A Martin Scorsese amour fou: The most satisfying bombshell from Liza's dishy new memoir

In Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, the legendary performer details descending into an impassioned, drug-fueled affair with the filmmaker during the filming of the 1977 movie musical New York, New York.

Don Lemon wants queer people to stand up to bullies: ‘Punch them in the nose’

The award-winning journalist isn't backing down despite what the current administration throws at him.

'Heated Rivalry's meteoric rise blamed for anti-LGBTQ+ bullying on high school hockey teams

A civil rights group claims that backlash to the show's popularity has caused an uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ hate from fellow players and coaches.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to betold.

What states are the most dangerous for LGBTQ+ people? Here are the worst 15

Exclusive: Jim Obergefell endorses Angie Craig for U.S. Senate

Sen. Chuck Schumer's Lesbian Daughter and Her Wife Welcome Son

Tennessee bill lets businesses and people refuse to recognize same-sex marriages

Porn star Wilfried Knight dies by suicide after long battle with immigration

More For You

These LGBTQ+ married couples aren’t afraid to show their love

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger sends marriage equality & abortion rights amendments to voters

Virginia ICE agents nab gay Panamanian immigrant at routine check-in, man’s U.S. citizen husband says

Anti-LGBTQ+ Republican congressman from California dies suddenly

Texas judge who refused to officiate same-sex weddings sues to overturn marriage equality

Most Popular

Many alleged suicides of Black trans women are in fact modern-day lynchings, report finds

Jill Collen Jefferson, the founder of JULIAN, explains what happens when a transgender woman’s death is ruled a suicide and a community calls it something else.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Congressman Dan Crenshaw ousted by more extreme candidate in Texas GOP primary

The Texas Republican championed a federal ban on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for minors.

New Hampshire House advances transgender bathroom bill, breaking with New England

The Republican-led legislation places the state increasingly out of step with the rest of New England on trans rights.

Outraged Ben Shapiro says Candace Owens documentary labels Erika Kirk a ‘lesbian pedophile’

The far-right influencer for months accused the CEO of Turning Point USA of being involved in her husband, Charlie Kirk's, murder.

Texas AG Ken Paxton says ban on gender-affirming care for trans kids also applies to talk therapy

Mental health care providers in Texas risk their license if they deliver care related to transitioning to minors, the Republican attorney general who is running for U.S. Senate wrote.

Latest Stories

Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week.

Judge Dismisses Case Against N.C.'s Same-Sex Marriage Opt-Out Law

U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn argued the plaintiffs failed to prove they were harmed by the law that allows officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if they cite religious objections.

FROM OUR SPONSORS

The Latest

The unsolved murder, dubbed the "gay Black Dahlia," was cracked wide open by director Rachel Mason after 25 years.

In Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, the legendary performer details descending into an impassioned, drug-fueled affair with the filmmaker during the filming of the 1977 movie musical New York, New York.

The award-winning journalist isn't backing down despite what the current administration throws at him.

A civil rights group claims that backlash to the show's popularity has caused an uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ hate from fellow players and coaches.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to betold.

More For You

Most Popular

Jill Collen Jefferson, the founder of JULIAN, explains what happens when a transgender woman’s death is ruled a suicide and a community calls it something else.

These are some of his worst comments about LGBTQ+ people made by Charlie Kirk.

The Texas Republican championed a federal ban on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for minors.

The Republican-led legislation places the state increasingly out of step with the rest of New England on trans rights.

The far-right influencer for months accused the CEO of Turning Point USA of being involved in her husband, Charlie Kirk's, murder.

Mental health care providers in Texas risk their license if they deliver care related to transitioning to minors, the Republican attorney general who is running for U.S. Senate wrote.