Among the typical challenges relationships often face, some couples find themselves encompassed in cultural discord as well.

The past several years have seen a hike in the number of television shows and films acknowledging non-traditional couples and focusing on the gay community — but legislation still prohibits marriage between same-sex partners in many states.

Robert McGee, an administrative secretary in the College of Natural Resources, exchanged vows with his partner, Gerald, in a commitment ceremony three and a half years ago at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.

McGee said he was Gerald’s first partner, but said Gerald was looking for something specific and settled down when he found it.

“I had to give him an owner’s manual,” McGee joked. “This is what you do and this is how you do it.”

At the commitment ceremony, the event’s 1920’s theme was ‘Everything Illegal,’ according to McGee. The reception hosted a crowd of gangsters and flappers — with guests ranging from heterosexual and same-sex couples to an ex-nun and a gay foster child.

Since their commitment, the couple has cared for several foster children and McGee is on the board of directors for their neighborhood pool.

On the weekends, McGee said they are much like any couple. They go out to dinner or stay in to watch movies.

“Our roles are very much like typical couples,” he said, explaining that he serves as the feminine partner. “Everyone knows I’m queen b—-.”

Each partner received a band with diamonds, but Robert said he typically sports the jewels since his partner works in the restaurant industry.

Defining gender roles is an obstacle that Nicole Crews, a junior in psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill, said she and her partner struggle with.

Crews is a lesbian, and said she has flip-flopped her role in various relationships — sometimes playing the feminine and sometimes playing the masculine role.

She is new to Raleigh, and works at a Gay and Lesbian Community Center and with the Gay and Lesbian Helpline.

One of the biggest issues she and her partner face, according to Crews, is going out in an environment where they feel comfortable.

“You have to be watchful even when you hold hands,” she said. “If we face discrimination we won’t go back.”

Crews said she is even careful when selecting a physician. She chooses physicians who are gay or lesbian-friendly, she said.

She said she is more comfortable in Raleigh than Durham, but said she feels more welcome in Chapel Hill because students and residents there expect more radical behavior such as cross-dressing.

Sam Morris, the adviser for N.C. State’s BGLA, an organization for bisexuals, gays, lesbians and allies, said the biggest challenge same-sex couples face is showing affection in public.

He said he is sometimes disheartened when he sees traditional couples holding hands or walking arm-in-arm when they are out.

“It’s mainly just because I know it’s something I could never do,” he said.

Morris pointed to another challenge unique to same-sex couples as being the additional pressure placed on them by society.

“You have to be this model couple,” he explained.

He said the atmosphere around campus is fairly guarded — and said it is characteristic of the atmosphere across the nation.

“I haven’t seen any non-traditional couples that I didn’t know about previously out on the sidewalk holding hands,” he said.

The BGLA often holds events that allow people to come together for events or coffee talks to discuss their lives — often giving support to those that may simply want to talk.

Morris said the University is in the process of creating an LGBT, or lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, center on campus.

The organization’s future plans include a diversity fair and an outing to see Brokeback Mountain.

A difference in age creates another unique aspect to Jeremy Hall’s, a sophomore in computer science, relationship with his partner, Mike, who is 15 years older.

“With that aspect there’s a lot less drama,” Hall said. “When they’re significantly older than you, they’ve already been there and they’ve already done that.”

The two have been together seven to eight months, according to Hall, and met online in a chat room.

During most of his high school career Hall said he dated women.

“I felt like dating girls was something I was supposed to do,” he said. “None of those really worked out too well.”

Among his favorite places to go in the area, he said they go to karaoke clubs, the Third Place — a coffee house — or cook dinner and sleep.

“I don’t know what the typical couple does,” Hall said with a laugh.