Town clerk refuses to license same-sex ‘marriages’

Town clerk refuses to license same-sex ‘marriages’

LEDYARD, N.Y. — A conservative Christian group is behind a new YouTube video that features a town clerk explaining why she believes she should not have to comply with a state law and issue same-sex “marriage” licenses.

Ledyard Town Clerk Rose Marie Belforti’s position has drawn heavy criticism, a possible lawsuit and an opponent to her re-election bid.

“I am a Christian. The Bible tells me that marriage is between a man and a woman so I don’t feel I can endorse the new (state) law. I don’t feel it is right,” Belforti said on the video.

The Courage Fund, an offshoot of the Christian lobbying group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, produced the video, according to Jason McGuire, executive director of the state lobbying organization. His group represents about 5,000 evangelical churches in the state and opposes New York’s same-sex “marriage” law.

“We wanted to raise awareness about what’s going on, and we wanted to let the clerks tell their stories in their own words,” McGuire said.

Belforti told town officials that she would not grant same-sex “marriage” licenses because of her religious beliefs. The town has since assigned that duty to a deputy clerk.