RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Despite a growing cultural and legal acceptance in some areas of the country, more North Carolinians oppose gay marriage than support it, according to the latest Elon University Poll. Forty-seven percent of our state's registered voters oppose gay marriage, while 44 percent support it. The remaining 9 percent had no opinion.

In 2012, North Carolinians passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between one man and one woman. Recent court decisions have struck down similar laws as unconstitutional. That led North Carolina court officials to tell local magistrates they must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

In response, the legislature is moving a bill to give local officials an opt-out provision when their religious views are in conflict with gay marriage. A former magistrate has also filed a lawsuit claiming he was not reappointed to his position because of his opposition to gay marriage.