North Carolina Senate Passes Opt-Out Measure for Officials Opposed to Gay Marriage
Marti Maguire of Reuters reports, “The North Carolina state Senate voted on Wednesday to allow government officials to refuse to marry same-sex couples without fear of being fired, adding a new twist to the gay marriage debate in a region where such unions have faced strong opposition.” The vote came after many state magistrates actively opposed officiating the unions because it ran against their religious beliefs. While the courts have taken steps to provide special rights to some, we must not ignore the constitutionally protected rights of others,” said Republican State Senator Phil Berger, sponsor of the bill.