The North Carolina House minutes ago passed a bill that effectively allows magistrates to refuse to marry same-sex couples, based on their religious beliefs.
Minutes ago the North Carolina House passed SB2, a law that will allow magistrates, citing their deeply-held religious beliefs, to choose to not marry same-sex couples. In order to appear non-discriminatory, the magistrate must promise to not marry any couples – gay or straight – for at least six months, but even during debate lawmakers were openly explaining that the legislation was to protect them from marrying same-sex couples. That alone will likely allow a court to strike it down as unconstitutional, if challenged.
The bill passed by a wide 67-43 margin.
As the North Carolina Senate passed the bill back in February, the legislation heads to Republican Governor Pat McCrory’s desk. While the Republican governor has stated he opposes the bill, he is likely to not sign it, bit rather allow it to pass into law without his signature.
On Wednesday, House Representatives spent several hours debating the legislation, with several conservative Republicans taking a great deal of time to attack allowing same-sex couples to marry at all.
“I believe in my heart that as we move further and further away from God and from his word, that we can expect to see his blessings disappear,” GOP Rep. Bert Jones told his colleagues. “Marriage was created and ordained by God, not the State of North Carolina or the federal government,” he added, while also comparing same-sex marriage to polygamy and incest.
LGBT activists are attempting to convince Governor McCrory to veto the bill:
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Image by ACLU-North Carolina via TwitterÂ