North Carolina Magistrates Are Quitting Rather Than Marry Loving Same-Sex Couples

Two state-employed magistrates have resigned in North Carolina, rather than marry loving same-sex couples. What’s their reason?

After 31 years together, one week ago the state of North Carolina finally caught up to William Locklear and Randall Jackson, and allowed them to marry. Except, one man stood in their way.

Pasquotank County magistrate Gary Littleton refused to do his job by marrying the couple on Monday. They say he told them, “I won’t be performing your marriage because of my religious beliefs.”

The couple came back and were married on Tuesday by a different magistrate.

The religious right is suggesting this is job discrimination.

Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) today reported that Littleton “could lose his job after he refused to marry a gay couple in Elizabeth City earlier this week.” 

Other magistrates aren’t waiting for same-sex couples to show up to be married.

Yesterday, “a magistrate in Rockingham County resigned his office over the issue of same-sex marriage, citing his personal religious beliefs,” as QNotes reports.

“When I took my oath of office, I understood I would be required to perform weddings and have done so throughout my tenure,” Rockingham Magistrate John G. Kallam, Jr., wrote in his resignation letter. “I did not however take that oath with any understanding that I would be required to marry same sex couples. It is my personal belief and a position of my Christian faith that doing so would desecrate a holy Institution established by God Himself.”

QNotes also reports Swain County, NC magistrate Gilbert Breedlove has resigned. 

“I know what the Bible says and I know that it’s not right,” Breedlove has said.

 

Photo: Monday, minutes after having received a North Carolina marriage license, Joey Hewell (left) and Scott Lindsley (right) are married by an officiator in front of the Mecklenburg Clerk Of Courts office. They are accompanied by Scott’s Stepfather (far left) and Scotts’ mother (far right).

Image by Grant Baldwin via Flickr

 

Related At The New Civil Rights Movement:

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Christian Church Sues NC For Violating Its Religious Liberty By Banning Same-Sex Marriage

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