County clerk may excuse employees from officiating same-sex marriages

[JackBeck]

By EDWARD SIFUENTES

San Diego County Clerk Gregory Smith said Tuesday that he was considering excusing clerks who have a personal objection to same-sex marriages from officiating at the ceremonies.

(snip)

"I don't think it's correct to force employees to do it," Smith said, "and I don't think you would want someone who is hostile to your beliefs performing your ceremony."

Smith declined to discuss his personal views on gay marriage.

"I am not going to go there, I obey the law," Smith said.

The county's top attorney said Smith's proposal for allowing employees to opt out of performing same sex-marriages can be accommodated while following the court's ruling.

(snip)

"It is my opinion that county clerks have no legal standing to grant county employees the authority or ability to choose which marriages they wish not to officiate at, based on their personal views or biases," Delgadillo wrote in the letter to Bowen dated Monday.

(snip)

Alice Kessler, a gay rights advocate, said county employees should not be allowed to opt out of performing their duties. She said doing so would allow employees to discriminate against same-sex couples.

"We're talking about civil marriage, it's not a religious institution," said Kessler, government affairs director for Equality California, a gay rights organization.

More at: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/05/21/news/sandiego/z10a99b39974d60518825744f00628f30.txt

[PDJane]

1. She is quite right.........

I personally have the feeling that, since the benefits of marriage are conferred by the state, the rite of marriage should be a civil rite anyway.

[JackBeck]

10. Not only conferred by the state

But on a Federal level, as well, which is why gay marriage and not civil unions are a burning necessity for any LGBT couple that deserves access to all the benefits bestowed upon heterosexual marriages.

[PDJane]

11. Of course.........

I'm sorry, I was thinking in shorthand. That's the other half that I simply neglected to mention. Thanks.......

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. Gosh, I don't want to pay taxes to bigoted county employees

It goes against my moral values. Can I abstain from paying taxes to them? Didn't think so.

[Tyler Durden]

4. We do agree on some stuff, don't we?

BRAVO.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

13. We probably agree on most things.

It's been a long primary season, hasn't it? :hi:

[Tyler Durden]

3. So if someone doesn't believe in "mixed marriages" they can bow out as well?

Nope. Civil employees can perform any civil function the law mandates.

OR, they can get another job. Period

[gatorboy]

5. If they don't like it, they should quit.

Or maybe my wife and I should move to California. She's a minister and would have no problem performing these ceremonies.

[Bluebear]

6. What if the clerks don't believe in "race -mixing",are they exempt from interracial marriage duties?

Mr. Smith?

[JackBeck]

7. I was just about to post the same thing.

Or if atheists were going to be exempt from performing marriages on fundies.

[Solly Mack]

8. so it's OK for govt. employees to engage in discrimination

based on religious grounds?

What bullshit


haters , especially those who cloak their hate in religion, can kiss my not so white ass

[Lars39]

9. Doesn't the County Clerk hire and fire his own staff?

If he has that capability, he has the obligation to fire those who choose not to perform their work according the law.

[orleans]

these assholes that don't want to do their jobs should have their

asses FIRED.

[orleans]

12. dupe. (apparently i couldn't say it often enough) n/t