As marriage equality becomes legal in Md., some court clerks to stop performing marriages

Some deputy court clerks in St. Mary’s County will stop performing marriages when same-sex marriage becomes legal in Maryland next week. Joan Williams is clerk of the St. Mary’s Circuit Court. She tells The Washington Examiner (http://tinyurl.com/c82fl45) that some of her employees are opposed to gay marriage for religious reasons. As a result, she decided those deputy clerks won’t perform any marriages. She says it’s a way of respecting their beliefs. All counties in Maryland are legally required to start performing same-sex marriages on Jan. 2. Fifty-two percent of Maryland voters approved legalizing gay marriage, but some resistance remains.