MONTANA: County Allows Staff To Refuse Marriage Licenses Over Religious Beliefs

Via Montana's CBS affiliate:

A few clerks in Yellowstone County have decided not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of their religious beliefs. The county anticipated the ruling and the human resources department had told Clerk of District Court Kristie Boelter that employees can choose not to issue marriage licenses for religious reasons. The County cited Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Part of Title VII states "It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin..." Boelter said 20 clerks work in her department and the opting out was not a problem. She says one clerk cited religion and four others said same sex marriage went against their morals and values. However, Boelter said morals and values do not apply to Title VII. While individuals can decide to not issue licenses, she said it is her duty to uphold the law.

Yellowstone is Montana's most-populous county and is home to Billings, the largest city in the state. (Tipped by JMG reader CM)