Winston-Salem is believed to be the first city in North Carolina to defy the state's ban on same-sex marriage and recognize married, same-sex couples with valid out-of-state marriage licenses specifically as "spouses,"
Citing the 4th Circuit's ruling overturning Vriginia's gay marriage ban and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announcing that he would no longer defend the ban in court, Winston-Salem's Human Resources Director Carmen Caruth told gay employees that city benefits would be extended to their spouses and children
Q notes reports:
Winston-Salem currently does not offer domestic partner benefits to unmarried couples. City Council members are expected to discuss a new plan in a Council community development, housing and general government committee meeting on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, legally married couples regardless of gender can enroll their spouses during a special enrollment period ending Oct. 31.
[photo via Wikipedia]
