Billings clerk opts out of issuing same-sex marriage license
Source: KRTV/MTN News
BILLINGS -- As same-sex couples in Montana celebrate their right to marry, a Yellowstone County employee is also asserting a right.
U.S. District Court judge Brian Morris in Great Falls ruled on Wednesday in favor of four Montana same-sex couples suing for the right to marry.
Morris ruled that the state's constitutional amendment limiting marriage to between a man and a woman violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A few clerks in Yellowstone County requested that they not be required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
One clerk cited a religious reason, while three others wanted to opt out because of morals and values.
Read more: http://www.krtv.com/news/billings-clerk-opts-out-of-issuing-same-sex-marriage-license/
TeamPooka
(24,242 posts)Sheldon Cooper
(3,724 posts)Downwinder
(12,869 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)Last time I checked, there was no official religion in this country and they had no right to refuse you a public service because of their personal opinions.
weissmam
(905 posts)jmowreader
(50,562 posts)After Loving v. Virginia (which invalidated laws against interracial marriage, aka "antimiscenegation" laws) was handed down, how many county clerks cited religious reasons for continuing to refuse to grant marriage licenses to mixed-race couples? The Bible does speak of the evils of allowing the "mixing of the races."
Eventually someone's going to have to decide: is America a theocracy or isn't it? There are way too many people in this country who would just LOVE to implement a Christian version of Sharia.
pinto
(106,886 posts)Off hand comment, obviously. Guess they could bring suit individually. Good luck with that. Holdouts in opposition of equality standards that are becoming established in our country.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)rocktivity
(44,577 posts)rocktivity
cstanleytech
(26,312 posts)be fired for cause so as to be denied unemployment benefits if they were to try and apply for them imo.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Is Mont. a "right to work" state?