Kern County, fearing a devastating impact on its budget from a rush of same-sex couples who wish to be married in civil ceremonies, has decided to stop performing such ceremonies altogether. The decision set off a predictable blast of criticism from supporters of same-sex marriage. Pish and tosh. It's perfectly understandable.
After all, Kern County and such metropolises as Buttonwillow, Arvin, Mettler and Wasco -- to say nothing of Bakersfield -- have become veritable magnets for gays and lesbians in recent decades, owing to the liberal, sophisticated and cosmopolitan urban lifestyles they offer, and the tolerant and easygoing attitudes that are a hallmark of the county. It's easy to imagine County Clerk Ann Barnett's office being swamped by thousands of gay and lesbian couples seeking to tie the knot after the state Supreme Court's recent ruling allowing same-sex marriages.
Bennett was only seeking to protect her office's slim resources when she recently asked the county counsel if she could refuse to perform same-sex marriages. When told that wouldn't be permitted under law, she made the decision -- reluctantly, no doubt -- to cease civil ceremonies of any sort.
That also leaves a number of opposite-sex couples high and dry -- 25 are currently signed up for civil ceremonies -- but in such difficult budget times, we all have to make sacrifices. Besides, all those Kern County couples can just fill up the tank and drive to San Francisco to get married.
Perfectly understandable? Actually, I find this decision quite foolish and naive. What is the age of their county clerk? 90? Besides, its not like they can't utilize the funds from all the applications, as well as prolong the process by asking for mandatory blood exams, like they do in standard marriage license requests. How on earth could they possibly be overwhelmed? As for these cities being havens of homosexuality, I don't think I have EVER heard "Hey, if you swing that way, Bakersfield is the way to go...". Ann Barnett should be glad there's money at least making it toward the city funds, given the state of the economy today.
Bottom line, she's discriminating based on sexual orientation, and in my book, should be fired. If anyone is treated that way in an office environment, they'd be terminated immediately and a lawsuit would be pending.
The fact that ANYONE is willing to part with their money to commit to a relationship, in the eyes of their court system, in today's economy should NOT be snubbed. Discrimination of ANY kind is unacceptable.
Frankly, if no one sues the office of the county clerk's office, I would be seriously surprised, because the ACLU would fight this and win in a heartbeat.
This has got to be some kind of joke. The whole thing reads of sarcasm. Especially this part:
"After all, Kern County and such metropolises as Buttonwillow, Arvin, Mettler and Wasco -- to say nothing of Bakersfield -- have become veritable magnets for gays and lesbians in recent decades, owing to the liberal, sophisticated and cosmopolitan urban lifestyles they offer, and the tolerant and easygoing attitudes that are a hallmark of the county."
Bakersfield, Buttonwillow, Arvin, Mettler and Wasco? Sophisticated and cosmopolitan?! You're kidding right?
I have a good deal of gay friends and a gay brother, none of which would ever consider moving to any of those towns, even Bakersfield. Sorry to burst your bubble Bakersfield, but you are the polar opposite of "magnetic to gays."
If it seems like more gays are surfacing it's because there are more who are coming to grips with who they are. And I'll bet you they'd like to move away if they could.
She's simply looking for an excuse not to carry out the ceremonies. Let some folks sue the county.
Good post ...I feel ya (no, not THAT way).
Vigilance is the key here. Our country's under constant threat, especially here in the Valley. Bakersfield must be especially nervous, being just over the hill from L.A. Who knows how many weirdos with college degrees and fancy i-phones might sneak into our little bastion of sanity in the middle of the night.
Pretty soon, those open-minded, latte-drinking elitists, who think they're so smart, might actually make it to Fresno. Better to fight 'em in Bako. Land o' Goshen!
Have we nothing more pressing to worry about than the lives and loves of homosexuals. In my humble opinion, that preoccupation is voyeurism.
That public servant in Bakersfield must do her job as delegated. If she does not like it she can always go into the privat sector to do her minstry...or whatever.
The fall of great civilizations throughout history is always preceeded by the blossoming, acceptance, and promotion of homosexuality, extreme feminism, abortion the destruction of morals, and yes, an "invasion".
Sodom and Gamorrah, move over, we're on television tomorrow
Mr. Maloof, can you give us any actual historical examples, other than the story of Sodom and Gomorrah?
I've seen others make that claim, too, but I've never seen anyone attempt to back it up with fact.
I do accept the story of Sodom and Gommorah being allegorical (Deuteronomy, Mathew, Mark et.al.) Socalled "unnatural, carnel wickedness" is indeed of great detriment to any culture. But is homosexuality any more unnatural than I am having been created heterosexual?
If Mother were here, she would drown me in a teaspoonful of water for even putting my big foot in it. (See D.M. above.)
Boy, it's a good thing the fire and brimstone stamped out the "sins" of Sodom & Gomorrah for good, eh, Mr Maloof?
You may want to do a little more research...
Classical Jewish texts do not stress the homosexual aspect of the attitude of the inhabitants of Sodom as much as their cruelty and lack of hospitality to the "stranger." (See Jewish Encyclopedia on the importance of hospitality.) The people of Sodom were seen as guilty of many other significant sins. Rabbinic writings affirm that the Sodomites also committed economic crimes, blasphemy and bloodshed. One of the worst was to give money or even gold ingots to beggars, but to inscribe their names on them, and then subsequently refuse to sell them food. The unfortunate stranger would end up starving and after his death, the people who gave him the money would reclaim it.
A rabbinic tradition, described in the Mishnah, postulates that the sin of Sodom was related to property: Sodomites believed that "what is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours" (Abot), which is interpreted as a lack of compassion. Another rabbinic tradition is that these two wealthy cities treated visitors in a sadistic fashion. One major crime done to strangers was almost identical to that of Procrustes in Greek mythology. This would be the story of the "bed" that guests to Sodom were forced to sleep in: if they were too short they were stretched to fit it, and if they were too tall, they were cut up.
In another incident, Eliezer, Abraham's servant, went to visit Lot in Sodom and got in a dispute with a Sodomite over a beggar, and was hit in the forehead with a stone, making him bleed. The Sodomite demanded Eliezer pay him for the service of bloodletting, and a Sodomite judge sided with the Sodomite. Eliezer then struck the judge in the forehead with a stone and asked the judge to pay the Sodomite.
The Talmud and the book of Jasher also recount two incidents of a young girl (one involved Lot's daughter Paltith) who gave some bread to a poor man who had entered the city. When the townspeople discovered their acts of kindness, they burned Paltith and smeared the other girl's body with honey and hung her from the city wall until she was eaten by bees. (Sanhedrin 109a) It is this gruesome event, and her scream in particular, the Talmud concludes, that are alluded to in the verse that heralds the city’s destruction: "So Hashem said, 'Because the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah has become great, and because their sin has been very grave, I will descend and see...'" (Genesis 18:20-21).
I'm more inclined to 'read' the Bible and understand it, and study multiple sources, rather than dubious sources like John Hagee, which seems to be the view of what you expressed earlier.
Actually, Kern County followed Virginia's attempt to nullify desegregation. Virginia simply closed all their public schools. What a shame. Actually, Kern County affects far more than gay or straight people. I suppose athiests will just suck it up and get married in a religious setting since they won't have a civil option anymore. How uncivil of them!
I have a hunch the Kern County Clerk isn't too concerned with the rights of atheists, either.
But they can always go to Vegas, I suppose. Or drive up to Fresno (and spend a few bucks here).
...all those gay-bars in Arvin and Wasco might get outed!...sorry, Merle, but "I'll never swim Kern river again."
As with any other employment situation if an employee fails to fulfill their legal responsibilities they should be terminated.