The Daily Tar Heel
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Thursday, March 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

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The Daily Tar Heel

TO THE EDITOR:

As was reported yesterday, in May the people of North Carolina will vote on a ballot initiative to amend the N.C. Constitution to declare that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State”. Students, staff and faculty in the UNC system should care about the impact of this amendment if passed because the impacts on UNC system students, staff and faculty will be as follows:

Students would no longer be able to purchase health insurance for a same-sex spouse or partner.

Students with a same-sex spouse or partner will no longer be eligible for on-campus family housing.

Students with a same-sex partner will no longer be able to purchase student recreation center memberships for a same-sex partner.

The few equitable after-tax benefits currently available to staff and faculty with a same-sex spouse or partner could no longer be offered.

Any chance of securing benefits equity in terms of health insurance for UNC system employees in same-sex couples would cease to exist.

Potential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, Two-Spirit, same-gender loving and straight allies may be less likely to choose UNC-system schools as places to pursue degrees or employment.

The LGBTQ Center believes that this proposed amendment is the antithesis of the center’s mission to foster a safe, inclusive environment for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. As such we oppose this legislation and will work between now and May to educate people about the full ramifications of this amendment.

Terri Phoenix
Director
LGBTQ Center

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