Q: How do you save the hallowed institution of marriage from being destroyed by gays getting married?
A: You stop doing marriages altogether.
That’s the answer of two California counties, anyway:
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 Butte1 counties cited budget and staffing constraints as the rationale for halting the ceremonies….County clerks are required by law to issue marriage licenses, but the offices do not have to perform wedding ceremonies….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.
Too bad about the baby, but that bathwater was just so filthy and immoral…
But of course the decision is completely justified by the gay tsunami threatening to engulf the beleaguered counties:
“Bakersfield (the Kern County seat) is not a very safe place to be out,” added the Rev. Byrd Tetzlaff of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kern County. “We are not expecting that many couples, maybe 10 or 12″….
At least 25 opposite-sex couples who had weddings scheduled at the clerk’s office are also being forced to make other plans, [Kern County Supervisor Maben] said.
Well, that’ll show them!
Snark aside, there is at least one hero in this:
After hearing of the decision, Tetzlaff announced she would perform free marriages to same-sex couples until Nov. 4, when voters will weigh in the proposed constitutional amendment.
Next Tuesday she plans to offer her services to all couples getting licenses at the county building. But she said she and other gay-marriage supporters have been told that the police will not allow them to conduct the ceremonies there.
“We are looking at places nearby where we can be, and there are a number of us that are going to be supporting the couples as they go in to get their licenses,” she said.
As for Butte County, perhaps our readers will help come to the rescue. If you’d like to donate money so they can go back to performing marriages, call the clerk’s office at (530) 538-7691 or e-mail them at clerk@buttecounty.net. Let them know how you feel, and tell them you’re willing to help.
Wow, that’s absurd (like the comment about the baby, btw lol). Mind you, in Australia the issue isn’t even really BEING contended, which is equally irritating. Are US laws the same about living together (as partners) for a certain period of time constituting the same legal rights as marriage? I wasn’t sure.
Incidentally, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve added your blog to my blog roll (on http://elfmage.wordpress.com), since it’s one of my favourites :). I don’t expect reciprocation or anything, just thought I’d let you know (and I’d be honoured if you take a glance some time!).
Blessings, Amanda
Amanda, thanks for your comment. I’m just a guest blogger here, but I’m sure Deborah will be thrilled to be added to your blogroll.
I’m a little fuzzy on common-law marriage–it varies from state to state, and it seems to be less in use today than it once was. I imagine it would still exclude same-sex couples in most states. (California does have a domestic partner law that confers many of the same rights as marriage; that’s what the state Supreme Court decided was not an adequate substitute for marriage.)
Ahh now I understand, thanks for explaining! Sounds to me like deciding it’s not an adequate substitute is just (yet another way of) making sure that same-sex couples have no rights. Ugh.