Are they so 'free', though, gargoyle??? Both the details shown in the OP & the following would appear to contradict that:-

'The amendment would alter North Carolina's constitution to say that "marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state."'

Also the fact that the benefits now payable to certain same-sex couples could be lost due to this amendment.

You may think that what happens in NC is no put-in of anyone over here in UK; but an important point of semantic interpretation seems involved here.

~Michael~