The American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation, has announced that it will challenge the state’s ban on equal marriage.

Last year the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of six same-sex couples and their children, and has amended that lawsuit in today’s announcement.

The ACLU last year filed the lawsuit in Greensboro in the US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The lawsuit asks for the state’s Attorney General Roy Cooper to allow an additional change, in order to challenge the state’s ban on equal marriage, to be added to the previous lawsuit.

If the Mr Cooper refuses, the ACLU has said it will petition the court.

In May 2012, North Carolina voters approved a constitutional ban on equal marriage, which over 60% of voters favoured. The United Methodist Church also bans gay people from serving as clergy.

The ACLU also announced that it will challenge the state of Pennsylvania’s equal marriage ban, as well as the ban in the US state of Virginia.

A church in North Carolina, recently said that it would not conduct wedding ceremonies for straight couples, until its pastors are able to officiate same-sex weddings as well.