ECU community celebrates marriage equality

Members of the Greenville community spent the weekend rejoicing following Friday’s decision by the Supreme Court that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of same-sex marriage.

Though same-sex marriage has been legal in North Carolina since October, the local LGBT community views the ruling as a victory.

The phrase “LOVE WINS!” was found written in chalk outside of the Copper Beech student housing leasing office over the weekend.

The East Carolina University LGBT community also released their support for the decision.

The ECU LGBT Resource Office provides support for students, faculty and staff of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Assistant Director of the LGBT Resource Office Mark Rasdorf said students took to social media to celebrate the decision, but nothing is being held on campus at this time.

“For the students that volunteer regularly with our resource offices and utilize our services, I think the ruling by the Supreme Court is an affirmation and celebration of the lives of LGBT people in America,” said Rasdorf. “Our students see it as humans rights issue and so this is an affirmation of the civil rights of all people in the United States to marry the people that they love.”

President of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Amy Bright said the LGBT community still faces discrimination in the workplace, and transgender individuals are also the victims of discrimination and violence.

“As a community, we’re celebrating this victory, but it doesn’t mean our work is done,” said Bright.

The LGBT Resource Office will have a booth at orientation sessions throughout the summer for new students interested in getting involved.