Duval, Clay, Baker counties to end courthouse weddings to avoid marrying gays

[Edward]

RonChamblin: I appreciate and respect your honesty. I fully understand some people's hesitancy "accepting the new societal trend" when it is not what they are familiar with. I was ambivalent until my son came out several years ago. We suspected for years he was gay but when he finally came out, and his personal happiness forever improved, we immediately accepted ever aspect of who he is. We have learned of families who turned their backs on sons/daughters just because they are gay. How a parent can stop loving a child over something the child does not control is mind boggling.

Being gay is not a "trend" but a biological fact of life. Being gay is not a choice (when did you decide to be straight?). As the majority of society quickly learns and accepts this fact, gay rights will be as normal as all other civil rights. Sad that some people's moral compass lets them sit in judgment. I love my son and his partner and hope one day they can be married (if that's what they want). All the arguments for traditional marriage seem hollow with a 50%+ failure rate. These judgmental do-gooders should find a real problem to fix - like the epidemic of unwanted pregnancies that haunts society.

Thank you for being open-minded.

[ronchamblin]

Thanks Edward. 

[IrvAdams]

RonChamblin: I appreciate and respect your honesty. I fully understand some people's hesitancy "accepting the new societal trend" when it is not what they are familiar with. I was ambivalent until my son came out several years ago. We suspected for years he was gay but when he finally came out, and his personal happiness forever improved, we immediately accepted ever aspect of who he is. We have learned of families who turned their backs on sons/daughters just because they are gay. How a parent can stop loving a child over something the child does not control is mind boggling.

Being gay is not a "trend" but a biological fact of life. Being gay is not a choice (when did you decide to be straight?). As the majority of society quickly learns and accepts this fact, gay rights will be as normal as all other civil rights. Sad that some people's moral compass lets them sit in judgment. I love my son and his partner and hope one day they can be married (if that's what they want). All the arguments for traditional marriage seem hollow with a 50%+ failure rate. These judgmental do-gooders should find a real problem to fix - like the epidemic of unwanted pregnancies that haunts society.

Thank you for being open-minded.

Well put.

[spuwho]

Early research in states that perform gay marriage shows the divorce rate for homosexual marriage is trending the same as heterosexuals.

[Dog Walker]

This adds a whole new layer of meaning to the term "gay panic".  It also reminds me very much of the same sort of panic that started after 1964.

[IrvAdams]

Such a position by a city official is backward and misguided. I don't think a majority of residents would agree with this needless boldfaced stand against current law and trends. Wake up, it's 2015.

Early research in states that perform gay marriage shows the divorce rate for homosexual marriage is trending the same as heterosexuals.

^^ Not surprising, really. I guess marriage is always something you have to work at, regardless.

[Tacachale]

Again our "leaders" insist on being on the wrong side of history. Pathetic.

[Charles Hunter]

Stolen from someone's FaceBook post:

Dear Clerk of Court employees:

Your boss blames you for ending weddings at the Courthouse. If people are upset at you, call you bigots or distribute your names, feel free to blame the guy elected.

Sorry about that.

Yours truly,
Jacksonville

Since Ronnie said that he checked with his staff, and none of them are "comfortable" performing same-sex weddings.  Maybe he should ask them if they are comfortable performing inter-racial weddings?  Oh, wait, the courts decided that one 50 years ago.  There are some parts of my job I don't like - should I ask our CEO if we can just stop doing those things?

[tufsu1]

^ yes

[pierre]

Another embarrassing moment for Mayberry RFD

[IrvAdams]

Another embarrassing moment for Mayberry RFD

Actually, I don't know about Mayberry; Andy and Barney would have probably allowed it. They were quite progressive :-)

[KenFSU]

It's stuff like this and the Clay Yarborough nonsense that make me genuinely question whether Jacksonville is the right place to raise my daughter.

An absolute embarrassment.

[finehoe]

Early research in states that perform gay marriage shows the divorce rate for homosexual marriage is trending the same as heterosexuals.

And...?

[Jumpinjack]

Family division Circuit Court Judge Linda McCallum said absent the availability of Duval County clerks to perform marriages, judges will step in.

"It is not something that needs to stop," she said.

Places could be found to perform the services, she said, and judges are sworn to uphold the law. She said she will perform marriages for anyone who gets a license and believes there is support among other judges as well.

"I'd be happy to do it," she said.

Kudos to Judge Linda McCallum! 
Also, when does Fussell come up for reelection - he won clerk position in a very tight race.

[Yossarianlives]

Family division Circuit Court Judge Linda McCallum said absent the availability of Duval County clerks to perform marriages, judges will step in.

"It is not something that needs to stop," she said.

Places could be found to perform the services, she said, and judges are sworn to uphold the law. She said she will perform marriages for anyone who gets a license and believes there is support among other judges as well.

"I'd be happy to do it," she said.

Kudos to Judge Linda McCallum! 
Also, when does Fussell come up for reelection - he won clerk position in a very tight race.

Good for her.  This is such a lame attempt to prevent the inevitable.  Too bad the Clerk of Courts lets his personal beliefs interfere with the function of our city government in such a blatant way. 

I hope MetroJax stays on top of this story and lets us know if the Honorable McCallum follows through.