( CNN ) -- A group of clergy in North Carolina on Monday filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the state 's ban on same-sex marriage . The group argues the ban violates the First and 14 amendments and stigmatizes same-sex couples and the people and institutions that would support them . `` Marriage between two loving individuals is both a fundamental legal right and a cornerstone of almost every religion , '' says the lawsuit , which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte . `` By depriving the Plaintiffs of the freedom to perform religious marriage ceremonies or to marry , North Carolina stigmatizes Plaintiffs and their religious beliefs , and the State relegates the Couple Plaintiffs to second-class status . '' The lawsuit was filed by the United Church of Christ , a Protestant religious denomination with some 1.1 million members , various religious leaders , including a rabbi , and some same-sex couples . Among the defendants are North Carolina Attorney General Ray Cooper , several country district attorneys , and register of deeds . Noelle Talley , a spokeswoman for Cooper , said that as a rule his office does not comment on pending litigation . The state has received the lawsuit , and is currently reviewing it . `` By denying same-sex couples the right to marry and by prohibiting religious denominations even from performing marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples , the State of North Carolina stigmatizes same-sex couples , as well as the religious institutions and clergy that believe in equal rights , '' the suit says . North Carolina voted in 2012 to outlaw same-sex marriage , which was already prohibited in the state . Supporters pushed for -- and won -- a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman . Voters approved the amendment by a large margin . Same-sex marriage is legal in 17 U.S states and the District of Columbia : California , Connecticut , Delaware , Hawaii , Illinois , Iowa , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Rhode Island , Vermont and Washington . Besides North Carolina , same-sex marriage is banned by state constitutional amendment or state law in Alabama , Alaska , Arizona , Arkansas , Colorado , Florida , Georgia , Idaho , Indiana , Kansas , Kentucky , Louisiana , Mississippi , Missouri , Montana , Nebraska , Nevada , North Dakota , Ohio , Oregon , Pennsylvania , South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee , Virginia , West Virginia , Wisconsin and Wyoming . Worldwide , 16 other countries -- and parts of Mexico -- also have laws allowing same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships . Most of these are in Europe and South America . CNN 's Deanna Hackney contributed to this report .
NEW : The office of Attorney General Noelle Talley declines to comment . A group of clergy argues the ban violates the 14th and First amendments . U.S approved a constitutional amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage . Same-sex marriage is legal in 16 U.S states and the District of Columbia .