When Dylan Toften and Thomas Hurd went to get a marriage license at local town clerk’s office in Root, New York last summer, Sherrie Ericksen refused to give them one.
At the time, Ericksen lied and told the guys they needed to have an appointment. Also, same-sex marriage was against her deeply held religious beliefs and so she couldn’t bring herself to do her job.
After Eriksen turned the couple away, they took to social media to share their story, tagging New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who responded: “Marriage equality is our law in NY. The denial of a license to a same-sex couple is an unconscionable act of discrimination.”
Cut to eight months later.
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After the guys threatened the sue the town of Root for discrimination, they worked out a deal: The town would pay them $25,000 and they’d get a public apology from Eriksen.
Yesterday, standing before a roomful of people, including town leadership, community members, and local news cameras, and looking very nervous, Eriksen rattled off her apology.
“On 30 July of last year, there was an unfortunate incident involving Mr. Thomas Hurd and Mr. Dylan Toften, who came to my office seeking a marriage license,” she said, her voice shaking.
“I am sorry for any harm or inconvenience my actions caused the couple.”
Watch.
Town of Root clerk apologizes tonight 8 months after denying a gay couple their marriage license. The town has also reached a cash settlement with the couple. Hear from them tonight only on @CBS6Albany #MarriageEquality #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/e39x399HRK
— Emily DeFeciani (@CBS6_Emily) April 11, 2019
Imjustsaying
A forced apology. Yipeeee.
DCguy
The apology should also have added that she is aware her actions were bigoted and that she purposely violated state law because of her own bigotry and hate.
Wicked Dickie
Exactly. I don’t know why these religious zealots go into public serving positions if they hold private religious beliefs.
fireman452
And now these so called “Christians” are yelling I am a victim of Oppression!!
MISTERJETT
isn’t it odd how these idiots use religion and the bible to justify their hate and ignorance?
Glendabulous
Right???
fur_hunter
The instant I saw the headline….I KNEW it was not that HOE 8ITCH C*NT, Kimmy in Kentucky. She would cut out her tongue before she would apologize to anyone on this issue. I hope she rots in the same Hell she keeps telling us we are going to.
maestro214
Fur, I must once again take you to task on your tactics. Calling someone, anyone, a “HOE 8ITCH C*NT” only serves to lower the IQ of the debate. Kim Davis was duly dealt with by the authorities in her state. She lost law suits and she went to jail.
While I find Davis, Ericksen and everyone like her to be disgusting bigots worthy of the fires of hell, using ad hominem attacks and gutter slang to describe them only serves to get our side ignored.
When did you ever hear such civil rights heroes as Barbara Jordan, Dr. King or Harvey Milk use such language in public debate? Never.
While it is noble and useful to fight speech with more speech, hatred is ugly on any side, and in my opinion, should be eschewed.
Bob Scardino
@maestro214 – would it be ok to say Cee yoU Next Tuesday, Sherrie?
USAJose
I would like to take a moment to let you know you never need to be nice to your oppressors.
Mr-DJ
Religiously held beliefs, huh? Wonder what she did about divorces, or people marrying who were previously married, or had sex prior to marriage? What about those blended fabrics she is wearing? Need I go on…..? And is she truly ‘sorry’ or are these just words that are part of the settlement?
tommyboy5023
She does her job or stands aside and lets someone else do it. Some crone goes to church and decides who gets married. Transfer her to the DMV.
j41005
The problem is, that last year she clearly did not do her job and discriminated against this couple. She knowingly broke the law and should have been fired. Instead she got away with a slap on the wrist.
Dimples girl
That bitch would make God hit the bottle!
j41005
These guys got $25,000 bucks and heard a prepared statement being read (not an apology). Sign me up! I could use the money. ?
Tom
“…any.. ”
A total non-apology. Sue their asses.
youarederanged
This is why any candidate, even the gay ones, who are running for a political position and bring their religion into the conversation should be ignored. Religion breeds hate, always has and always will. It’s the definition of “us vs them” because there are always outsiders.
DCguy
Except your comment is a thinly disguised attempt to attack the only openly LGBT candidate running for President.
See, if you’re going to try to troll it may be a good idea to not be on all the other Threads defending the bigot Mike Pence before you come here and try to pretend that any gay religious person is just so upsetting to you.
But nice try troll.
youarederanged
@DCguy
Your reading comprehension skills need some help. I attack all candidates that claim religion. Mike Pence and Mayor Pete are both on the religious bandwagon and that should have no place in our politics. Religion has always pitted groups against each other and encourages hate in the name of morality.
Never defended Pence. I defended his right to free speech and religious practice even though I think he’s a nut. Good try.
mondongo
It is fine that she apologized, however she neglected to explain that she has such crazy ideas because she had been brainwashed as a child to believe in folk tales that seem to be accepted by so many…….AKA Religious types!
Surely she must accept that such beliefs are total nonsense and will base her future positioning on realty and trash the imaginary friend concept!
Either that or get fired!
TheDefiler
“Unfortunate”?? What does “fortune” or “luck” or “chance” have to do with this incident? The only thing your bigotry shares with rolling snake eyes is its “reptilian” origin.
Jack Meoff
Was forcing her to wear that awful outfit part of he punishment?
DCguy
Aaaaannnnnd, you win.
shelleybear
Help me out here.
Does this bitch STILL have her job?
beachcomberT
I don’t know if Root is big enough to have a town attorney. But if the clerk did consult a lawyer before refusing the license, that attorney should reimburse the town for giving clearly erroneous advice.
t
… and the settlement did not include her termination from her job? I sure as SH*T would have demanded that also be a part of the settlement because she will break the law again and not have any consequences for her bigotry because the government she works for will allow her to break the law again when situation presents itself.
RevJames
Woefully inadequate.
Theweatherman
Very sincere and heartfelt. Clearly not.
Jaimebol
My dear gay friends, Please realize that religion, in all its forms, is destroying the world. We were always the social sector that drove the great changes. Now we must end with the false messengers of God and false owners of the truth. Please, each one of you, write in your social networks profiles, messages of conscience so that this ends forever. Let us unite to rebuild the harmony of humanity.
funpitt412
At least she did apologize. I know that it is not allowed to accept an apology unless the person apologizing is an extreme liberal that hates anyone that does not have the same beliefs as them.
whateverokok
Religion is not the problem. Let’s be clear on that. The problem is the people within the religion. Whatever man gets a hold of they tend to spoil or sour it. So, if you are looking to direct hate and ire towards something or someone aim it at those inside the religion, but not the religion itself. Religion doesn’t hate (it’s physically impossible for that to happen). People do.
youarederanged
Religions are based on writings and oral traditions written/said by people. People create religions, they don’t just pop up from nowhere. There are countless religious writings and oral traditions that spew hate in all major religions. Hate against women, minorities, and gays. People write the words that create religions. You can’t separate the two.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I am so very, very, sincerely from the bottom of my heart sorry that I have to make this apology….
Glendabulous
This is the most sorry excuse for an apology I have EVER heard! My 2 year old grand child can give a better apology than this! She doesn’t deserve to have a job in the public if she cant serve the public …ALL the public equally as she is required to do by law! A slap on the wrist is not sufficient! She should look those 2 men in the eyes and beg their forgiveness!
radiooutmike
@Wicked Dickie: They love to be gatekeepers.
Nightman
Ummm. My history may be a bit off here, its been a few decades since I was in elementary school. But as I recall, people came to the “New World” to escape religious persecution, & other unfair social situations. I was taught that one of the principles of the Founding Fathers, was that Religion & State were to be kept separate. This had been a huge problem in many countries. It still is in some countries. Today it is still illegal to allow religion to interfere with the State.
Ms. Ericksen violated one of the basic principles of the foundation for this country, & willfully violated the spirit & intent of the Constitution, which guarantees equality for all. Thus demonstrating immoral & unethical conduct in her job, & abused her position as the Clerk. She does have her right to practice her religion, but not when it involves fulfilling her employment duties & responsibilities.
Her apology was thin & lacked integrity. If she’d paid the $25k out of her own pocket it would have had more significance. It wasn’t the Town’s misconduct, & using tax dollars to settle the claim is wrong. I would have suspended her from work for 90 working days & put her on probation for 1 year; & any further violations of any law will result in immediate dismissal. What the Town management should be looking at is if Ms. Ericksen &/or any other employees have acted in similar manner to any other persons for any reasons, religious or otherwise. Discrimination can rear its ugly presence in many ways.
Using religion to justify discrimination is a bastardization of the religions morals & ethics, & defiles the spirit & intent of the Bible, & the religions.
So, she committed misconduct in her job, & also abused her religion, & all she had to do was read an apology. Hmmm. The punishment doesn’t seem to fit the crime.
Felecia
While that as an LGBT voter, I am excited about Mayor Pete’s attempt to be President of the United States; but I don’t think it will be THAT big of a deal towards change if he does. The lives of black Americans certainly did not get any better -or SAFER- during Obama’s term, and it was still ‘open season’ on unarmed citizens and children for the same police forces he supposedly was the ultimate boss over. I saw nobody in the streets of Ferguson but the troops the governor sent for…there was no federal presence shipped in. No muscle from DC to claim ‘it’s a new day, haters’….and so, none of the murderous bigots worried at all; our first black President remained a lame-duck, do-nothing-for-anybody-being-hunted-down-like-a-dog type of guy. I will vote for Mayor Pete if he becomes a real choice, yet I expect once again to not be impressed if he wins….and what’s the point of being President if you don’t use it to INSIST that federal laws be rightfully enforced for everyone under our flag..???
wizbang_fl
Ahhh but in addition to the apology she was required to read during an open council meeting (televised) The city had to pay them $25k (not sure but that may pay for a pretty nice honeymoon)