Gay-rights group reviews marriage ban

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Gay-rights advocates are still trying to make sense of the effect of a constitutional amendment two months after North Carolina voters slammed the door on same-sex marriages.

The Campaign for Southern Equality offers a free legal workshop scheduled for Friday in Charlotte to help same-sex families learn what has changed for them since the amendment took effect in May. Many have expressed concern that the amendment invalidates wills or health care power of attorney forms, which it doesn't.

The amendment has left municipal managers wondering if cities and towns can offer benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees.

The group takes its informational workshop to Asheboro on Saturday.

Same-sex marriage was already illegal in North Carolina, but the constitutional amendment makes that harder to change in the future.