New York town clerk quits over gay marriage licenses

[fauxparadiso]

HUDSON, New York (Reuters) - A town clerk in western New York has resigned to avoid being forced to sign marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples, citing religious objections to same-sex marriage.

Laura Fotusky, the town clerk in Barker, New York, said in her resignation letter that she will step down on July 21, three days before New York

Comments

[paulnolan]

LOL

Also yay she quit, instead of it going the way Lillian Ladele's case did (civil registrar refusing to register same sex couples, got fired and now whining about OMG CHRISTIAN DISCRIMINATION).

[sparkindarkness]

They're PERSECUTED don'tchaknow!

At least some people believe. Like the Equalities Commission *will now hide under rock*

[brewsternorth]

Well, quite. And good riddance. Hope she can find other work, and that whoever takes over from her will do a damn good job.

[olivetree]

yup. good on her for quitting instead of creating a hot mess.

[applegnat]

In a 2010 paper, she argued that the religious beliefs of marriage officers should be accommodated as long as they pose no hardship to same-sex couples.

Is it just me, or does this lack any sense whatsoever?

I'm sorry this lady feels so strongly about something that's not her business that she's had to quit her job over it, but hey, good call. More LGBT-friendly government functionaries for the rest of y'all.

[fauxparadiso]

The best I could rationalize that statement was "Jane can be allowed to deny signature to same sex marriage licenses as long as someone else can step in and do it for her". Which isn't going to work anyhow because a lot of places don't have multiple clerks.

[amyura]

And often in places that do have a backup clerk, the backup simply uses one of those name-stamp things for the "head" clerk.

[kyra_neko_rei]

And even when they do, there's the potential for problems---having bigotry thrust at you IS a hardship, in its own right, especially for people who are not emotionally equipped to shrug it off.

It's one thing if the clerk in question politely waves the other clerk over, all "can you get this one? I really need a bathroom break" or something like that, but how many "conscience-clause" clerks are going to take the polite route? If they weren't assholes they wouldn't be refusing to do their jobs in the first place.

And hearing "You're immoral and in violation of the laws of God" is gonna hit extra hard to somebody who's maybe just been on the phone with parents who aren't coming to/taking part in the wedding for the exact same cited reason. Even for someone who's in a position to shrug it off, it grates. The clerk is the one getting paid, why should the couple have to accomodate the person who is rude to them and not vice versa?

[angi_is_altered]

Sorry if I offend,but fuck religion. You want to believe in something..fine...but don't expect everyone to.

[aisasami]

You want to believe in something..fine...but don't expect everyone to.

+1. This comment is what everyone should learn from.

[nova_42]

came here to say this; thank you.

What must she be thinking? that by signing the certificate she personally hands out God's rubber stamp of approval?! Does she think the paper gets infused with something supernatural?! ugh, religion shouldn't be involved in the government side of the marriage process at all, they should be handing out "civil union certificates"...to everyone gay or straight, and every marriage going back retroactively should be seen by the gov't as a civil union.

[roseofjuly]

That's my thing. God also says "pay Caesar's things back to Caesar," and I can't find myself wanting to serve a God who would get mad at me for obeying the law (or marrying two people in love, but that's a whole other topic).

[zombieroadtrip]

And nothing of value was lost.

[liret]

I am still not sure why people refusing to do their jobs are news.

[aisasami]

ia.

[bathstone]

IA. I will gladly take her job off her hands.