Texas Clerk Issuing Gay Marriage Licenses In Spite of Her Faith

People celebrate the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage, in Austin, Texas on Friday, June 26, 2015. (Shelby Tauber/Austin American-Statesman via AP) AUSTIN CHRONICLE OUT, COMMUNITY IMPACT OUT, INT... People celebrate the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage, in Austin, Texas on Friday, June 26, 2015. (Shelby Tauber/Austin American-Statesman via AP) AUSTIN CHRONICLE OUT, COMMUNITY IMPACT OUT, INTERNET AND TV MUST CREDIT PHOTOGRAPHER AND STATESMAN.COM, MAGS OUT MORE LESS
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Over the weekend, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suggested that local clerks with religious objections could opt-out of granting marriage licenses to gay couples in light of the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage. But at least one Texas clerk who opposes gay marriage on religious grounds doesn’t see a need for the exemption.

“Personally, same-sex marriage is a contradiction to my faith and belief that marriage is between one man and one woman,” Denton County Clerk Juli Luke said in a statement Sunday, according to the the Denton Record-Chronicle. “However, first and foremost, I took an oath on my family Bible to uphold the law, and as an elected public official, my personal belief cannot prevent me from issuing the licenses as required.”

Her clerk’s office oversaw its first gay marriage Monday morning, the Denton Record-Chronicle. The couple, Sara Bollinger and Whitney Hennen, received their license a little after 8 a.m.

“It feels pretty incredible. Growing up this didn’t seem like something that was ever going to happen,” Bollinger said.

In his opinion, Paxton said clerks and justices of the peace didn’t have to participate in same-sex marriage depending on the “particular facts of each case,” especially when other authorities were available to officiate the marriages.

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Notable Replies

  1. Kudos to this gal for putting legal requirements ahead of her own religious beliefs. TX needs more civil servants just like her.

  2. TX is one mighty fucking huge haystack in which to find such an unlikely needle.

    Congrats on being born sane, lady. If only it was contagious,.

  3. This woman is an example of what civil service means.

    Thank you Ms. Luke.

  4. A sensible christian … in Texas?

    Does Texas know about this?

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