A gay couple in Arkansas say they were subjected to derogatory comments by an employee of a county clerk’s office when they tried to apply for a marriage license.
Kirk Bell and Jarrod Harms went to the Benton County Clerk’s Office last week to apply for the license, but they say that when an employee of the clerk’s office was getting their paperwork, the employee made derogatory comments about same-sex marriage, claiming that it was “wrong” and shouldn’t be “a thing.”
The employee also read out a list of Justices of the Peace who would be open to marrying the couple, and those who would decline, Bell claims.
“She chose to offer her own opinions on same-sex unions. We chose not to respond, not to engage,” Bell told Fort Smith-based ABC affiliate KHBS. “Neither of us are hurt or angry, we were surprised that type of discrimination would rear its head in 2020.”
“When those thoughts came out, I was dumbfounded. I wasn’t able to respond except to say…okay,” Harms added.
The couple later complained to Benton County Clerk Betsy Harrell about the incident, and she promised to remedy the situation right away.
“The comments made to Mr. Bell and Mr. Harms were unacceptable and do not represent the policies of my office,” Harrell said in a statement to KHBS. “I am incredibly sorry for what they experienced this week.
“When I became aware of the situation, I immediately expressed our sincerest apologies to Mr. Bell and Mr. Harms, and appropriate disciplinary action with the employee involved has been taken,” Harrell added. “Our employees are well aware of our anti-discrimination policies. Failure to treat all customers with dignity, respect, and professionalism will not be tolerated.”
Because the dispute relates to a personnel situation, details of what disciplinary action was taken could not be released publicly, according to county officials.
Bell says he and Harms simply hope that no one else will be subjected to similar treatment.
“Same-sex marriage has been federally legal for years. We just want to ensure that the proper training is done so that personal opinions aren’t warranted when someone is trying to get a marriage license,” he said. “More than anything we want to expose it and bring attention to it so that the next couple in line doesn’t have to hear those remarks.”
Thailand is one step closer to legalizing marriage equality after lawmakers in the country's lower house of parliament voted to approve a bill permitting same-sex couples to wed.
The bill overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 400-10 in its final reading on March 27.
It now heads to the country's Senate, where it must be approved, before finally having Thailand's king sign off on the policy change. The law could be enacted as soon as 120 days after the king's assent, reports Al Jazeera.
If the bill surmounts those obstacles, Thailand would become the third Asian country to legalize same-sex nuptials, following Taiwan and Nepal.
On April 19, the Biden administration issued new rules outlining schools' obligations under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination -- including explicit protections for LGBTQ students.
The new rules, which take effect August 1, expand Title IX's protections against sex-based discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding by prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity in federally-funded educational programs.
That explicit expansion of the law seeks to align Title IX guidance with the principles undergirding a landmark 2020 Supreme Court decision finding that the Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ workers from workplace discrimination, and that instances of anti-LGBTQ discrimination are inherently a form of sex-based discrimination.
Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a "religious freedom" bill that critics say will legitimize instances of anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
The "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" passed on a party-line vote in Iowa's GOP-led Legislature, with all Republican lawmakers voting in favor of it.
Reynolds signed the measure at a private event hosted by The Family Leader, a conservative Christian organization opposed to LGBTQ rights. She also sought to justify her actions by claiming those with conservative religious beliefs are a persecuted group.
"Thirty years ago, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act passed almost unanimously at the federal level," she said in a statement. "Since then, religious rights have increasingly come under attack. Today, Iowa enacts a law to protect these unalienable rights -- just as 26 other states have done -- upholding the ideals that are the very foundation of our country.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
A gay couple in Arkansas say they were subjected to derogatory comments by an employee of a county clerk’s office when they tried to apply for a marriage license.
Kirk Bell and Jarrod Harms went to the Benton County Clerk’s Office last week to apply for the license, but they say that when an employee of the clerk’s office was getting their paperwork, the employee made derogatory comments about same-sex marriage, claiming that it was “wrong” and shouldn’t be “a thing.”
The employee also read out a list of Justices of the Peace who would be open to marrying the couple, and those who would decline, Bell claims.
“She chose to offer her own opinions on same-sex unions. We chose not to respond, not to engage,” Bell told Fort Smith-based ABC affiliate KHBS. “Neither of us are hurt or angry, we were surprised that type of discrimination would rear its head in 2020.”
“When those thoughts came out, I was dumbfounded. I wasn’t able to respond except to say…okay,” Harms added.
The couple later complained to Benton County Clerk Betsy Harrell about the incident, and she promised to remedy the situation right away.
“The comments made to Mr. Bell and Mr. Harms were unacceptable and do not represent the policies of my office,” Harrell said in a statement to KHBS. “I am incredibly sorry for what they experienced this week.
“When I became aware of the situation, I immediately expressed our sincerest apologies to Mr. Bell and Mr. Harms, and appropriate disciplinary action with the employee involved has been taken,” Harrell added. “Our employees are well aware of our anti-discrimination policies. Failure to treat all customers with dignity, respect, and professionalism will not be tolerated.”
See also: Upstate New York town must pay gay couple $25,000 for refusing them a marriage license
Because the dispute relates to a personnel situation, details of what disciplinary action was taken could not be released publicly, according to county officials.
Bell says he and Harms simply hope that no one else will be subjected to similar treatment.
“Same-sex marriage has been federally legal for years. We just want to ensure that the proper training is done so that personal opinions aren’t warranted when someone is trying to get a marriage license,” he said. “More than anything we want to expose it and bring attention to it so that the next couple in line doesn’t have to hear those remarks.”
Read more:
Georgia transgender sheriff’s deputy can sue for health care denial, court says
Michigan Army National Guard specialist sues state to challenge transgender military ban
Gay Republicans really do hate themselves, survey finds