The San Diego
County Clerk's office is considering giving its
officials the option to exempt themselves from
officiating gay marriages when the California supreme
court ruling legalizing such unions takes effect June
16, according to TheSan Diego Union-Tribune. County clerk Gregory Smith has asked more
than 100 employees of the county who conduct marriage
ceremonies to submit their "legitimate
religious or moral" reasons for wanting to opt
out of gay and lesbian ceremonies.
The effort, Smith
said, is out of "dignity and respect" for both
the employees of the county as well as the couples who
will potentially be married in San Diego. Smith
defended his proposal by saying it would be unfair to
force any dissenting staff members to participate in a
ceremony with which they hold a moral objection. Smith
added that the gay and lesbian couples being married
also deserve to have a supportive officiant rather
than someone who objects to their union.
Smith thought it
best to confront the issue in anticipation of the
thousands of gay and lesbian couples who will request
marriage licenses when the court ruling takes effect.
Smith did assure San Diegans that, regardless of the
decisions made by individual county officials, the
County Clerk's office will provide enough marriage
officiators for all couples, gay and straight, who
request to be married.
Smith concluded,
"Bottom line is, we're going to get the job
done, and we're going to have the resources to
do it." (The Advocate)
