“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… ‘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 would not share his personal views on the matter. [North County Times]
“Objections.”
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beefy
this is f’ing ridiculous. government employees are there to serve ALL citizens, not just the ones they so choose. would an employee be able to opt out of marrying an interracial couple?
Tintin Malfoy
I was thinking the same thing Beefy.
hell's kitchen guy
I think as long as there are other clerks to take up the slack, it’s OK, but if one couple waits one extra minute because of it: no.
Liam
This is total bullshit. Money tax dollars are just as good as the rest…maybe I should “opt out” of paying taxes.
allen bardin
If the clerks refuse to perform these marriages on religious grounds, they need to be let go & then try to get a job in their fucking church.
Dawson
I work for a different county in California and do social work. We see all types of clients. Some want abortions, some are convicted criminals, some hate gays, blacks, foreigners, ect.
We are told once you work for social services that your personal opinions are to be left at home. You are to treat everyone with kindness, consideration and respect. Granted our clients do not return this level of behavior.
What we have to do is pressure these stupid administrators that every county in California has a non-discrimination clause in every contract. Another example where conservatives are picking what part of the contract (or bible) suits them.
Just a side note on the Bible—Leviticus 20.10–“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the aduleress shall be put to death.” Maybe we should remind those religious nuts what the Bible says about the sancity of straight marriage.
rayrayj
This is not a religious ceremony. It is a civil ceremony and a Civil Rights issue. If the State allows their clerks to avoid marrying any group of whom the clerks do not approve (e.g., people who are of a certain ethnicity, or people who have a different spiritual belief system)then fine. I doubt that it the case though. If the parties meet the legal criteria, then the clerks should be obligated to perform the job. If the clerks now in those jobs do not wish to perform the job, I’m sure there are others who would be happy to have the job.
Jaroslaw
I want to know why everyone feels comfortable objecting to do their job when it comes to same sex anything but not other issues.
I’m sure many government and other kinds of employees are anti-immigrant, against certain races or religions. Why don’t we hear about them refusing service to groups that violate their beliefs?
John
Clerks need to follow the law and maintain a proper decorum as per their job descriptions.
I’m sure he will be taking this statement back. As a SoCal resident, I just don’t believe San Diego can be that much of a backwater.
Tom
San Diego is a fairly right wing area, especially in its elected officials, so I am not suprised the county clerk said this. It is clear he opposes gay marriage, why else would he allow county employees to put their personal beliefs above the legal rights of county residents? I am not sure who he answers to, but hopefully political pressure can be asserted to force a reversal of that discriminatory position.
Bill Perdue
People who take up bizarre religious lifestyles do so at their own risk. It’s their choice; they aren’t forced to believe bizarre superstitions, they freely chose to. They have to grow up and accept that there are dangers that come with flirtations with irrationality and getting too close to the borders of sanity.
If it means they can’t perform their duties they should be given psychiatric counseling and reassigned until they’re cured. Otherwise they should be fired.
Timothy
Tom,
No. San Diego is most certainly NOT right wing. Yes it is very Republican, but these are the kind we like.
The district attorney is a gay Republican and the Republican mayor endorsed gay marriage (his daughter is a lesbian). The city council is firmly on the side of equality.
Yeah there are some haters there. In fact, much of the anti-gay marriage amendment financial support came from a few deep pockets in SD. (Some of whom indignantly objected to protest saying that they strongly support gay rights – just not marriage).
But overall San Diego is one of the more supportive areas of the country. Especially in its elected officials.
Timothy
If your taxpayer funded job is to perform civil marriages, you need to either do your job or find a new one that makes accomodations for your biases.
That being said, if I were a County Clerk I’d take the pragmatic approach for a while. I’d try and schedule the gay marriages with those I know would be OK and let the ones who are uncomfortable get used to the idea first.
Eventually, I think that all the clerks will come to see this as a joyous occasion – even those who are religiously conservative. There may be a few holdouts who never let themselves participate in happiness of others and they would have to go. But in the meanwhile I’m sure that there are some who have been looking forward to the opportunity so let them set the example for the others.
M Shane
I don’t know how the legal system is set up there but there should be an ethics Board. It is now the law that samesex marriages be performed there should be no more “optional ” aspect to who is processed more than to who you bury or give drivers liscenses to.
In local law, especially with conservatives, they seem to think that they are an entity onto themselves. What tin horns.
l
What next? Muslim clerks at the DMV who won’t issue drivers licenses to women? This is utter BS.
M Shane
Muslims aren’t that stupid as a rule; at least once they’re over here they are very tolerant ;
michael
If you read what the Justices of the California Supreme Court wrote on how they arrived at their decision you would see that if the San Diego Mayor does follow through on his decision he will be open for all kinds of law suits. If I were him I would consult the city attorneys before taking this action. The court has said discrimination is discrimination and the ruling basically does more than just effect marriage, it effects everything in California. Even if California was to carry an amendment to its constitution this ruling
still disallows discrimination in every other areas. The court was quite brilliant and its really worth everyones time to read it in its entirety.
michael
Sorry, I meant to say the county clerk, not the mayor.
PJ
If they can’t perform their jobs because they don’t agree with their duties, then they need to find new jobs. Pure and simple.
dizzyspin
The only rationale I can think for Smith saying what he did that doesnt involve him being a homophobic asshole, is that he’s just trying to keep the peace in his department. It’s not a valid arguement, though. If we were talking about hard-to-replace positions like brain surgeons or SWAT Team captains, I might cut a teeny bit of slack. But is there an office job that takes less intelligence and skill than a county clerk?!?