Gay News From Around The Globe

Nassau County DA Says Marriage Licenses Discrimination of Same-Sex By Town & City Clerks Criminal

Will Kohler July 10, 2011

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Those that have been following the marriage fight in New York will undoubtedly remember the asshatantastic comments by Volney Town ~~Bigot~~ Clerk Barb MacEwan. Apparently MacEwan doesn’t believe that state law applies to her, and her Christianist beliefs are above the law of the land (insert coo-coo clock sound here).

“I’m not objecting to having it done here in the office, but I’m objecting to being forced to sign my name to something that is against my morals and my God,” said MacEwen, who has been town clerk for 18 years. “I don’t want to have to leave my position, and I still feel strongly about not wanting to sign, but I’m not sure if there’s another way around it.” (Source)

Spring forward to the present and we now have Nassau Country District Attorney, Kathleen M. Rice, saying that there will be none of these shenanigans in Nassau County. The ratification of the law by the legislature and the signature by the governor makes it the law of the land. Any clerks not abiding by the law and discriminating against same-sex couples are subject to criminal prosecution.

The Marriage Equality Act provides that an application for a marriage license cannot be denied on the grounds that the applicant parties are of the same sex and the law affords no discretion to public officials charged with granting marriage licenses. Therefore, any such refusal may be subject to criminal prosecution. (Source)

Read the full letter below:

Rice Letter to Clerks Re Marriage Licenses-3