On March 10, 2015, Professor Barbara Fedders published the following op-ed in the News & Observer (Raleigh):
Dressing Up Bigotry in NC as Religious Freedom
Like
every other lesbian or gay parent in North Carolina, I was thrilled when a
federal appellate court brought marriage equality to the Old North State last
July. Same-sex couples can now access the 1,000-plus benefits, rights and
protections provided on the basis of marital status in federal statutes. I felt
relief that my two young daughters will no longer carry the humiliation of
knowing their parents are second-class citizens in the eyes of the law.
This
fact, however, does not sit well with GOP leaders in the General Assembly.
Senate President Pro Temp Phil Berger has proposed Senate Bill 2, which would
permit magistrates, assistant registers of deeds and deputy registers of deeds
to refuse to perform marriages and issue marriage licenses “based upon any
sincerely held religious objection.” The bill passed the Senate on Feb. 25
almost entirely on party lines and will likely be debated in the House this
week. While SB2’s supporters argue that it provides religious accommodation to
public officials, fair-minded North Carolinians should recognize what the bill
actually represents: a desire not only to burden and stigmatize same-sex
couples seeking to exercise their constitutional rights, but also to pander to
homophobic voters.
SB
2 contravenes recent federal case law establishing the right to marry. Last
October, federal district court judges in two separate North Carolina cases
struck down the state’s laws restricting marriage to a man and woman and enjoined
the state, the Attorney General and its officers, agents and employees from
implementing state constitutional provisions or statutes that prevent same-sex
couples from marrying. The cases held that denying same-sex couples the right
to marry violated their constitutional rights to due process and equal
protection. The premise underlying the federal court’s decisions is basic:
Judicial officials personally opposed to same-sex marriage may not simply
refuse to follow the law.
SB
2 is unworkable and opens the door wide to discrimination. If
the bill became law, courts would have to ensure that when magistrates and
assistant and deputy registers of deeds opt out, other judicial officials such
as chief district court judges would be on hand to issue marriage licenses and
perform marriages. But in counties throughout the state, large numbers of
judicial officials could simply elect to skirt their duties. Couples seeking to
exercise their legal rights could be endlessly turned away and told to return
when a judicial official actually following the law is available. Further, SB 2
would permit recusal by judicial officials who have “sincere religious
objections” to interracial couples, interfaith couples or couples in which one
member was previously married. Civil marriage will become a privilege, not a
right.
Because
of its obvious illegality, SB 2 will undoubtedly lead to costly litigation that
taxpayers cannot afford. When state Attorney General Roy Cooper decided in July
that his office would no longer defend the state’s constitutional amendment
outlawing same-sex marriage, GOP leaders hired private counsel to do so. To
date, legal fees for the state to pursue this losing battle have amounted to
$100,000. This hefty sum will increase when SB 2 opponents file an inevitable
legal challenge.
Passage
of this bill would place North Carolina on the wrong side of history. Public
opinion on same-sex marriage has changed dramatically in the past few years.
More than half the public now favors allowing gays and lesbians to legally
marry, including 70 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 32. Same-sex
couples can now marry in 37 states. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court refused
to stay a federal court order permitting same-sex marriages in Alabama. Legal
experts agree that at least five of the justices appear to have concluded that
there is a constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples.
When
the Supreme Court rules in June, same-sex marriage will be the law of the land.
As my 7-year-old told me, “As long as two people love each other, it shouldn’t
matter whether they are two men or two women.” Against a backdrop of growing
public support and a changed legal landscape, she can openly express that
opinion without fear of teasing by her peers.
Berger
and his supporters cannot hide their bigotry by dressing it up as religious
freedom. In 1789, James Madison wrote, “The civil rights of none shall be
abridged on account of religious belief.” We should reject this new attempt to
legitimize anti-gay prejudice. It’s time to get on the right side of history.
Posted by Barbara A. Fedders on Tue. March 10, 2015 12:59 PM
Categories:
Service, Youth Justice Clinic