A same-sex couple who came up against a judge cited his religious beliefs as the reason he would not marry them explains why they chose a civil ceremony in the first place.
Weeks after the Supreme Court ruled states cannot ban same-sex couples from marrying, there are still many couples who are being denied their right to wed across the nation, all thanks to taxpayer paid employees of the state who are using religion to refuse to perform their jobs.
Take Carolyn Wilson.
She and her partner did their homework, looked up the hours and regulations of their Toledo, Ohio courthouse, paid the $15 fee and were told on Monday that the judge does not perform “these types of marriages.”
Toledo, Ohio Municipal Court Judge C. Allen McConnell issued a statement explaining why he declined to do his job.
“The declination was based upon my personal and Christian beliefs established over many years,” Judge McConnell said in a statement. “The court has implemented a process whereby same sex marriages will be accommodated. I will continue to perform traditional marriages during my duties assignment.”
But what are same-sex couples supposed to do, especially those who live in states, like Ohio, where many are less than supportive of marriage equality?
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WTOLÂ reports “Wilson says they specifically sought a public official to perform the marriage instead of a religious officiate.”
Carolyn Wilson and her partner thought they were doing the right thing, the moral thing, the thoughtful thing, the kind thing, perhaps even the understanding, supportive, tolerant, and even neighborly thing.
“We took great precaution not to offend a minister — that’s why we went to a judge to get married, never dreaming that he couldn’t follow the law,” Wilson told WTOL. “That he wouldn’t follow the law.”
“To go through that experience when it’s not pleasant and singles you out at a time in your life when you’re celebrating the fact that you have the same right as everyone else, it’s just not good. I don’t want anyone else to go through it,” she added.
No one else should have to go through it, at least not in Ohio.
The oath of office for judges in Ohio is quite clear, according to Ohio law.
“The oath of office of each judge of a court of record shall be to support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state, to administer justice without respect to persons, and faithfully and impartially to discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on the person as such judge, according to the best of the person’s ability and understanding,” Ohio revised code 3.23 reads. “The oath of office of every other officer, deputy, or clerk shall be to support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state, and faithfully to discharge the duties of the office.”
Fortunately, Wilson was able to get married, by another judge that day who understood his duty and performed it.
But of course, the religious right will never be satisfied. Most same-sex couples who want to marry aren’t asking clergy members they don’t know to marry them, to avoid awkward situations and out of respect for their religious beliefs.
But taxpayer employees of the state have, as written above, a legal duty and sworn oath to do their jobs, “faithfully and impartially.”
How much more are same-sex couples supposed to do to appease anti-gay activists and “Christians”?Â
What more does the religious right want?
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Image: Screenshot via 13 WABC
Hat tip: The Advocate