Oklahoma House advances bill for ministers to refuse same-sex marriage
Supporters of same-sex marriage campaign in Australia (Getty)
The Oklahoma House approved legislation that protects ministers who refuse to officiate same sex marriage.
A bill that will allow ministers to refuse to officiate same sex marriage has been approved by the Oklahoma House.
Representatives voted 88-7 Thursday for the bill put forward by Republican Representative David Brumbaugh. The measure will now go to the State Senate.
The bill grants licensed ministers immunity from any civil claim based on their refusal to recognize a marriage that violates the minister’s “conscience or religious beliefs.”
The news comes after judges in Alabama, where equal marriage has just become law, refused to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples.
The measure has been criticised by LGBT rights groups for being discriminatory.
It is assumed that the Supreme Court will soon vote to allow same-sex marriage in every state. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bade Ginsburg said the move wouldn’t take a large adjustment.
