TEXAS SENATE APPROVES RECUSALS FOR COUNTY CLERKS OPPOSED TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

  

The Texas Senate has preliminarily approved a bill allowing county judges and other officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples because of personal religious objections.

State Senator Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, authored the measure which would only apply if other officials without objections could step in and issue the marriage documents.

If the substitute official is located outside the county in which the marriage license is being sought, documents would be able to be sent electronically.

Birdwell says the bill protects religious liberties of county clerks, justices of the peace, and other officials.

Opponents to the measure say it sanctions discrimination and violates the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 legalization of gay marriage.