The Current Situation

Same-sex marriage has been recognized in North Carolina since October 2014 and same-sex sexual activity is legal. The government of Raleigh, NC publicly supports this and has resources on their website (RaleighNC.gov). Some of these resources include an LGBTQIA+ liaison to the Raleigh Police Department and links to local partnered organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community. Many universities in North Carolina such as NC State, UNC, and UNC Chapel Hill have LGBTQIA+ support centers, clubs, and other assorted organizations. Students are generally comfortable with the situation in these parts of the state, however hate crimes have occurred in smaller towns.

Same-sex marriage and sexual activity are legal in all US states and territories, however that doesn't mean all people are tolerant of this. While many US states have laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from hate crimes, some don't. 27 states don't address crimes based on gender identity , 17 don't address crimes based on sexual orientation, and 4 don't address hate crimes at all. A study by UCLA found that LGBTQ+ people are 9 times more likely to be hate crimed in the US than non-LGBTQ individuals.