Lawsuit: Christian Woman Fired For Refusing to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Certificates

[DonViejo]

Yanicka Parker, a Florida woman, was a longtime employee of the Broward County Clerk of Courts. She worked there for 12 years until she says she was suddenly fired when she told her bosses she wouldn’t issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. She’s has now filed a federal lawsuit against Howard C. Forman, the Clerk of Courts for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Broward County, Florida. In the lawsuit, she says she has “sincerely held religious beliefs in which she believes it is a sin for persons of same sex to engage in sexual relations. ”

In early January 2015, shortly after her office was instructed to start issuing same sex marriage licenses, Parker asked if she could be accommodated so that she could perform her “job duties without having to issue marriage licenses to same sex couple or perform marriage ceremony for same sex couples.” Parker contends shortly after she asked for the accommodation she was terminated because of her request. She said that there were six other clerks in the office who were perfectly capable and willing to issue the licenses.

“Issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples was a miniscule part of the clerk’s job and overall responsibilities, and Ms. Parker was willing and able to perform all other aspects of her job, Defendant Forman could have easily accommodated her religious beliefs,” the complaint reads.

Parker accuses the County of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion.

-snip-

http://lawnewz.com/high-profile/lawsuit-christian-woman-says-she-was-fired-for-refusing-to-issue-same-sex-marriage-certificates/

[CurtEastPoint]

1. she believes homosex is a sin. OK. but WTF does she have against marrying them.

[unblock]

3. Lost on homophobes is the fact that marriage has nothing to do with sex

In the sense that gays can have sex without a marriage certificate, and a marriage certificate doesn't require them to have sex either.

Legally, they have nothing to do with each other.

Never mind that thinking something is a sin means that *you* shouldn't do it. It doesn't mean other people who don't share your bigoted views shouldn't do it.

[stone space]

2. Meh...do your job, and collect a paycheck...or not.

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. Exactly.

[stopbush]

4. Bigotry inspired by religion is still bigotry.

So sick of the fucking Xians.

[GulfCoast66]

18. So is bigotry

Inspired by Atheistism.

Because there are many Christians who vote just like you.

We should judge people on their actions not their religion or lack there if. And many Christians are guided by their faith to make the world a better place. People like the Reverend Martin Luther King.

[stopbush]

19. Faith = belief in make believe

I'm not impressed.

The problem with religion is elevating make believe to the level of fact. By what human conceit is that a good thing?

[GulfCoast66]

20. Try winning elections with that message

Although I am a liberal Christian I would vote for an atheist rather than a fundamentalist. Actually, religion plays no role in my voting unless a candidate claims religious superiority. Then I vote against them.

You have no obligation to respect Christians, but insulting them will mean never winning an election in a country that is 75% Christians.

[stopbush]

21. I respect your right to believe what you will.

What I don't respect are the beliefs themselves.

[GulfCoast66]

23. Got it

And have no problem with it.

But you should expect to dislike the beliefs of a majority of your fellow democrats for the rest of your life.

Perhaps in the future you will see that our beliefs is what drives us to progress causes and learn to hold our beliefs in less destain. Or not. Does not matter to me.

[phylny]

24. Great response.

I want equal pay, to help the needy, no more wars, universal health care BECAUSE of my Christian beliefs.

[stopbush]

26. I look forward to a future where we as a species don't rely on make believe

to motivate and inform our progress. One would hope that altruism and a reality based outlook on life would unlock our potential as a species in ways that a belief in Zeus or Mars or Jesus cannot and never will.

[GulfCoast66]

28. That's fine

The only reason I posted on this thread is because you said you were so sick of the fucking christians.

I wanted to remind you that that includes many of your fellow progresses. I can't imagine why you are sick of me. We are political allies.

Have a nice day.

[Divine Discontent]

42. right, coexist. GB!

[LanternWaste]

62. More accurately, faith is simply a trust in that of which we do not have full knowledge.

More accurately, faith is simply a trust in that of which we do not have full knowledge.


"The problem with religion is elevating make believe to the level of fact..."
Like the nation-state, laws and money. Which we happily rationalize to ourselves as both real and necessary despite each being wholly imaginary.

[stopbush]

64. Nah. False equivalency...and a stretch, to boot.

[Quantess]

27. What is "Atheistism"?

I guess you meant atheism. What does a lack of religious belief have to do with this story?

[GulfCoast66]

30. Sorry about the spelling error

You'll notice it was midnight.

I don't care about anyone's Religious beliefs. I was responding to someone who does. He said he was sick of the fucking Christians. I was politely reminding him with no insults, that he is apparently sick of many of us on this site.

Have a nice day.

[Quantess]

43. Okay, I understand now.

The USA is really heavy handed on the side favoring church-going Christians, compared to where I live in Europe.

I'm a non-religious person. I'm agnostic, not an atheist, but we non-religious people all tend to get lumped into the same "godless heathen" category. Which means I get backed into the same corner that atheists do, or at least, I feel as though I need to defend atheists because we are all treated like satan's toejam all the same by many Christians.

[GulfCoast66]

44. Even in Europe?

I have been there for 7 trips, one for work that lasted 8 weeks.

I never got the feeling that religion was that important, but as an outsider, what do I know?

If you do not mind me asking, where do you reside?

FYI. I am a liberal Christian who tries to love my fellow man. It is not always easy!!

[Quantess]

48. I'm a Swedish American.

Christianity has been the official religion in Sweden for several hundred years, but it never really caught on. Some swedes believe in Jesus, and some Swedes consider themselves Christians.

These northern regions are strong with the seasonal signals: Summer Solstice is a huge holiday here, and also Winter Solstice coincides with Christmas.

[Orrex]

32. Which is the bigger issue?

That some Christians might be offended by the offhand statement of an anonymous atheist on an internet forum?

Or that yet another Christian in a position of power is using their Christian faith as an excuse to dictate public policy?

I rather suspect the latter.


Christians as a group hold overwhelming and largely unchallenged power in this country, so it is absurd to suggest that atheists are causing any harm to that group or to the Democratic party.

[GulfCoast66]

34. I am not offended in the least

And agree in total with the theme of your comment.

I just try not to stereotype groups and do not love it when liberals do so. Well, except conservatives.

And I never can understand why so many Christians have such a loathing of atheists. To the point of hatred.

I suspect it is because they see their followers religion as a way to manipulate them and if their believers stop believing they lose power. Because I find it hard to believe that the leaders of the religious right really believe in the words of Christ.

Have a nice day.

[stone space]

39. That some Christian gay couples who have had their marriage licenses denied by her...

...might be offended at having their own religion slandered, first by this women, and then by those who would like to make her a spokesperson for their own religion. The religious values of the couples involved are then pushed into the closet in favor of the more fire and brimstone approach of the perpetrator.

That some Christians might be offended by the offhand statement of an anonymous atheist on an internet forum?

[niyad]

5. do your damned job, or find another one that doesn't conflict with your beliefs. end

of problem.

[awoke_in_2003]

13. Yep

[Orrex]

29. Nothing in the world is so excellent...

that the addition of Freddie won't make it even more excellent.

[rurallib]

14. Amen - bigotry and religious beliefs are not physical disabilities that need to be accomodated

When my kids were out of college looking for jobs, one daughter had a friend who went to work for Monsanto. My daughter said she couldn't work for a company that was so in contradiction to what she believed.

Same thing here - if your beliefs conflict with your employer then either be quiet and do your job, but better yet go someplace where your beliefs line up with your employer. Chik-fil-a for instance.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Isn't that special?

[Skittles]

7. there are plenty of jobs bigots can do

that don't "violate their beliefs"

[roscoeroscoe]

10. Jeanine,

There are plenty of great jobs in the food service industry...

[madinmaryland]

8. The only way to get through to these people is to hit them where it hurts the most.

In the Pocketbook. Mr. Forman deserves kudos for what he did. Yes, I suppose he could have given her a 25% paycut if she was refusing to do part of her job and distribute the money to the woman's co-workers who had no problem with it.

Mr. Forman has the law on his side. Sadly more tax payer money will be wasted due to these wing nutters.

[Mariana]

9. I wonder how many licenses she issued

to people who were divorced and planning to remarry. Jesus said that's adultery, and adultery is one of the Big Ten.

[A HERETIC I AM]

35. Or to a Christian and a non Christian in violation of...

2 Corinthians 6:14;


14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

[A HERETIC I AM]

36. I'm also curious if she does any work on Sunday

Or eats shellfish or wears poly/cotton blends, etc etc etc

[yortsed snacilbuper]

11. Calling Mike Huckabee, another one of your religous nuts needs help to discriminate.

[central scrutinizer]

12. Fire up the fundy donation machine

She'll be a millionaire in a few hours

[Major Nikon]

15. She doesn't have to fuck them, she only has to give them a piece of paper

If nothing else she should be fired for being a drooling idiot.

[jberryhill]

16. How do you know she drools?

[Major Nikon]

17. I'm surprised she doesn't forget to breathe

I certainly hope her level of stupid isn't dysgenic for the sake of whatever children she might have.

[Laffy Kat]

33. ...

[Vinca]

22. How does filling out a form equate with agreeing with what you're writing?

No one is telling her she must marry a woman. Get a grip, lady. It's a form and your God gave you hands to write.

[randome]

25. "There are six other people who can do my job for me. I don't see why I have to do anything."

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[Orrex]

31. If I'm on the FEC & my beliefs consider it a sin to vote for Republicans...

can I bar people from voting for Republicans?

[Thor_MN]

38. So she believes she is being discriminated against because she wants to discriminate?

Accusing others of the crime that you desire to commit is not really sane....

[DFW]

40. Apparently.

I hope her next boss is named Mohammed Mahmoud, and fires her because her refusal to wear a burka to work offends his deeply held religious beliefs.

[Retrograde]

41. Didn't Jesus say something about

rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's? Like a civil marriage license.

And isn't she possibly discriminating against the rights of those who believe differently?

[TeamPooka]

45. The act of being not willing to serve same sex couples is an act of public discrinination that the

County cannot legally tolerate within their offices.
Along with the fact she is unwilling to fulfill the duties of her job makes it an easy administrative decision to fire her.

[sakabatou]

46. Not again...

[killbotfactory]

47. Alternate headline: Person fired for not doing their job. nt

[Hekate]

49. I used to be on my county's Civil Service Commission. If this case had come before us....

...that woman would have been out on her rear with no further appeal -- and as one of our long-time members used to say, gesturing over his shoulder in the direction of the Courthouse, her next avenue would be to sue and good luck with that.

I live in California and not in Florida, but really, the principle is the same for all public employment: if the employee has deep moral objections to portions of their job description, they really need to find another job, and if an opening is available within another part of the organization, by all means apply for it.

[Odin2005]

50. Calling her a "Christian woman" is an insult to all Christians who are not homophobic bigots.

It also plays into the hands of the right-wing bigots who have tried for decades to monopolize the term "Christian" as an element of their identity.

The headline should just say "woman".

[Orrex]

55. If she refuses to do her job because of her claimed Christianity,

then it's appropriate for the headline to identify her as a Christian.

That might be uncomfortable for non-bigoted Christians, but that's an internecine squabble that shouldn't be resolved in a news headline.

[Odin2005]

56. Then refer to her denomination, or use a modifier like "conservative Christian".

The vast majority of Americans are Christian so calling her a "Christian woman" is not very informative and just reinforces the attitude that the nuts own the term "Christian".

[Orrex]

57. That would be a pointless (and inconsistent) exercise in compartmentalization

For instance, I don't ever remember seeing you call for denominational specificity when a criminal is identified as a Muslim. Feel free to cite examples of cases in which you've done so. For that matter, have you demanded that posters distinguish between hard atheists, soft atheists and militant atheists when posting about the statements or actions of atheists?

No, I won't be bothering to identify her particular denomination, and I'm under no obligation to do so. If she herself didn't identify her specific denomination (rather than "her Christian beliefs" or whatever) as the source of her discriminatory bullshit, then why the hell should I be required to make that distinction for her?

[Odin2005]

58. Muslims are not the vast majority of the US population.

[Orrex]

59. So?

[Odin2005]

60. When the majority of the population is Christian...

...saying a person is a Christian with no other modifiers is basically useless.

[Orrex]

61. That's silly.

You're arguing that all Muslims can be considered to be the same because there aren't enough of them in the US to bother making the distinction.

Even if we bought into your twisted logic that the Xtian denominational distinction is necessary at all, the fact that there are fewer Muslims than Christians means that we should be even more scrupulous in distinguishing one denomination from another.

[RKP5637]

51. So, she feels her inane beliefs should be pushed onto others. She should not be

in a public office, she's unfit to serve. Firing was absolutely the right decision. She really needs to move out of regressive times into the 21st century.

[GOLGO 13]

52. Do your job "christain" & keep your rancid beliefs to yourself civil servant.

We don't pay you to think.

[Initech]

53. Bullshit. How about this: don't get a job that gets in the way of your beliefs!

Oh and hate and bigotry are not Christian values, OK?

[Gothmog]

54. If this lady will not do her job, then the firing was appropriate

[lapislzi]

63. Why is the woman's religion relevant to the news story?

This is about a person being fired for not performing her job in accordance with the law. Her "religious objection" has no place in the sphere of civil service. Nobody's religion gets a pass, nor should it.