Two California counties to stop performing weddings

[Oeditpus Rex]

County officials in at least two California counties say they'll stop performing all wedding ceremonies by next week, arguing that they don't have enough resources to marry both gay and straight couples.

Officials in Kern and Butte counties cited budget and staffing constraints as the rationale for halting the ceremonies. But clerks in other counties say that claim is specious. Some activists went further, arguing that the decision to stop the ceremonies amounts to poorly disguised discrimination against gay and lesbian couples.

(snip)

In Kern County, Clerk Ann Barnett announced her decision only after county lawyers told her she could not refuse to marry gay couples. Butte County Clerk Candace Grubb, meanwhile, blamed budget constraints, telling the Chico Enterprise-Record that her decision was made long before the court ruling.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/10/MN2V1172KL.DTL

[jgraz]

1. God is burning up Butte County for their refusal to marry gay people

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9569234

[rwenos]

2. Kern County/Bakersfield

Spent a year in Bakersfield one week. "God, guns and the GOP." When I was there, the local tv station ran a special on retired LAPD guys, who confessed they used to drive up on to Bakersfield on the weekends, after busting heads in the Crenshaw District and South Central all week. Purpose of the visits by these fine LAPD peace officers was Klan rallies.

This was in 2005.

No surprise the County Clerk just decided to close down her wedding operation.

[Cleita]

4. Yeah, they are the next county over from mine and it's

pretty much freeperville there. There are some battle weary liberals who try to bring the light to their neighbors but it's an uphill battle for them all the time.

[provis99]

3. what cowards

Why don't they just admit they won't marry gay people because they're bigots?

[Sherman A1]

5. I wonder if they will stop issuing marriage licenses as well or just not

perform ceremonies at their courthouses.


I wonder also if the clerk in Kern's job description includes performing marriages, would she then also not be failing in her appointed duties?


She may disagree with the law (that is certainly her right to do so), but is she not required to perform the duties of her office?

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. The ceremonies are not a part of their official duties

They are allowed to perform marriage ceremonies, but are not required to do so. However, if they refuse to issue a license to a legally qualified couple who pay the appropriate fee, that would be malfeasance and dereliction of duty.