In North Carolina, cities and counties that offer domestic partner benefits to employees are in limbo after voters passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

In some other states, such amendments have led to the end of domestic partner benefits for public workers. And that’s exactly what some families in North Carolina are afraid of.

Ever since voters approved the constitutional amendment on May 8, Libby Hodges has worried about what could happen to her family’s health coverage. But she’s trying to put on a good face for her 4-year-old daughter, Moira.

“Sometimes it just happens that way,” Libby tells her daughter. “Like when you play a soccer game. … If I lose or win it’s okay.”

Libby works for the city of Durham, one of nine local governments across the state offering domestic partner benefits. Moira is on her insurance plan. But since Libby isn’t the little girl’s biological mom, that benefit could end.

Libby’s partner, Melissa Hodges, who gave birth to Moira, could add their daughter to her insurance plan. That would cost an extra $500 a month, a big hit to their budget. Melissa says they may have to move to a state where domestic partner benefits are assured.

“I’m going to stay on the lookout for jobs in all these various different places in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland,” Melissa says. “I was looking back at the list today of which states do we have all the same benefits and rights or at least as close as we can get.”

Legal experts say same-sex couples have reason to worry about these plans ending.

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Pro-Gay Marriage Endorcement from the NAACP Didn’t Sway Voters

Equality NC’s Executive Director Stuart Campbell released a statement praising the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP’s decision to endorse marriage equality:

“I am proud to stand with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and the North Carolina State Conference NAACP in supporting the National NAACP’s decision to endorse marriage equality. The NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, and with its endorsement of marriage equality and the momentum that endorsement brings, we continue to see that supporters of marriage equality are on the right side of history. The NAACP has long stood on the side of political, social and economic equality for all citizens in the United States, regardless of sexual orientation,” said Campbell.

“The North Carolina NAACP, with the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber at its helm, was an early supporter of Equality NC’s efforts to fight off Amendment One, a divisive, anti-gay amendment to our state’s constitution prohibiting marriage equality, civil unions and domestic partnerships, and which was unfortunately just placed in our constitution,” Campbell added.

“The NAACP’s recent endorsement of marriage equality simply confirms what we have been saying for some time: support for marriage equality is multi-generational, multi-cultural, and comes from leaders of many different communities and faiths. The opponents of marriage equality, namely the National Organization for Marriage, have long played racial politics in an attempt to drive a wedge between the gay and lesbian community and the African American community. This recent decision by the NAACP is yet another example that our respective communities reject the politics of division. And that we are all united in the goal of achieving fairness and equality for all North Carolinians, and say no to any attempts to create second class citizens, disenfranchise voters, or in any way weaken protections for individuals based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or any other factor beyond the merits and facts of the given situation, said Campbell.

“Today, we are proud to stand beside the NAACP in a coalition forged from the shared conviction that we shall never stop fighting for equality.”