RALEIGH -- The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday launched a new legal assault on North Carolina's constitutional ban on recognizing same-sex marriage, urging a federal judge to quickly negate it to help children and gay couples suffering from urgent health problems. Chris Brook, Legal Director of the ACLU of North Carolina, says their is momentum nationally in support of marriage equality.

Brook said, "Every court that has reviewed state marriage bans, since the Windsor case last year, has interpreted Windsor as being a pro-freedom-to-marry decision."

Lennie Gerber, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, says her and her partner of 47 years deserve to be legally recognized as a family. Gerber said, "We understand that this is the closing chapter of our lives. I do not want this chapter to end with me holding a death certificate that says Pearl is single."

Gay marriage bans have been struck down in Michigan, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia by federal judges in recent months.