OLYMPIA, Wash. — A Superior Court judge in Washington states said he refuses to officiate same-sex marriage due to his “philosophical and religious reasons.”
“I do not wish to perform same-sex marriages,” said Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor.
Gary Tabor
Tabor told The Olympian that he did not intend for his choice “to be a political or legal statement,” and that a number of other judges in the county have already made themselves available to perform same sex marriages.
He added that he is not legally required to perform such marriages.
Tabor said that, generally, he has made himself available in the past to perform marriages, but has in the past also declined to make himself available to perform certain marriages — in the Thurston County Jail, for example.
Tabor served as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Thurston County for almost 19 years before being elected Thurston County Superior Court judge in 1996, according to his biography on the court’s website.
He is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian College, which is now known as Oklahoma Christian University. OCU’s website states that its members “strive to treat our bodies with the honor due the temple of the Holy Spirit — honoring God’s plan that sexual relations be a part of a marriage between a man and a woman, dressing modestly, and avoiding any self-destructive practices.”
Washington voters approved a same-sex marriage referendum in November, and the law took effect in December.
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Fire him.
This man has a conflict with his CIVIL position. He should resign or be removed from the bench.
Churches need to start paying taxes
Ohh I wish I had my law degree already. Your Honor you are a judge in a federal/state courthouse your relgious objections are not recognized within the confines of this office.
He isn’t breaking any laws bits his right not to do marriages. He should do ANY marriages though.
He is a major Tool, however.
VOTE him OUT !
Forget him, there are others that can be found
He can go fuck himself !
Step down if you cannot perform all that is asked of you by your office.
you can’t pick and choose the laws you agree with dumbass !
Then he needs to resign or be fired immediately. Religion is separate from state in this country.
Impeach.
So if he passes judgement on me from some offense could you appeal under grounds if discrimination ? It would seem to be the fact .
He doesn’t look long from retirement. I’d just leave it to attrition. ;-{P}
Ok, as long as same-sex marraige can be performed by other members of the court, I say give him an opt out. Backlash from the LGBT community for not performing an act that ‘conflicts with their religious beliefs’ is the argument that religious zealots have been using for their ‘religious liberty’ argument that same sex marraiges should not be legal. They can’t be allowed merit to claim that argument.
if he can’t perform the duties of his office than he shouldn’t have his office.
Well that’s his bigotted right I suppose
Remove him – if this is a religious reason why would he marry Straight people outside of a Church
The people voted on it and won. If you can not perform your duties then step down from your position.
Thanks
He’s a judge….guess he’ll need to STEP DOWN since he refuses to uphold the law.
What a douche canoe.
Well, then that’s too damn bad for that Superior Court judge. That’s his call, his loss, his funeral. Same-sex marriage has already been legalized in the state of Washington, which also means equality, laws, and rights for L.G.B.T.Q. people and communities, so we can give 2 cents what that homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic nozzle of a Superior Court judge says or thinks now. Hell with him. Just forget about him and move on because he doesn’t stand up for or believe in the same things the rest of us do.
Why is it always some old bald fart that couldn’t get laid with one pocket full of cocaine and the other full of hundred dollar bills?
its tha land of tha free juzz in case u 4got n who tha hell r u to tell ppl tht they can’t get married it aint like God came to u tell u not to perform same-sex marriages bcuz it was wrong…its 2013 make a freakin change
The law and the Constitution trump your ridiculous religion.
ASS HOLE
I love how some people think that it’s okay to shove THEIR religion down MY throat. I do not care if your religion says no to same sex marriage. I do NOT follow your religion, so it’s rules do not apply to me. If you can’t perform your duties, step down; that way someone who is actually good at their job can do it.
Don’t get why any one should have governance on someone’s life style.
He’s not being asked to perform a religious ceremony. He can’t allow his religion to interfere with his legal/civil obligation.
I thought religion is separated from the state in the US.
TO ME THIS POOR EXCUSE WOULD BE the same as a jahovahs wittnees working at walart and refusing to sell christmas presents or anything to do with christmas because of their religious reasons…But if someone would do that,these same peoplewould be saying that would be ridiculous….
A judge? Goodness.
He shouldn’t be a judge if he can’t follow the law
Hey buddy, do your fucking job!
Impeach. Being a judge is an honor to serve all citizens. He should become a preacher instead, then he can use his religious views to refuse. His religious views have no room in his government job.
Seperation of church and state, wow just does not seem to happen. In most situations, if you have a job and for some reason cannot do it, you then don’t have one!!!
Then he should be fired.
Interesting that a judge believes he is above the law.
Henry you are correct he needs to be removed from office. He is refusing to perform a state required task. If he is that religious then he should be in that position to begin with.
If he feels incapable of doing his job, he should resign his position.
What does religion have to do with anything.
Someone needs to shove something so far… oh I forgot where I was for a sec lol
Well then he should resign and become a priest
I wouldn’t want that judge to marry me anyway!
He should be “fired” and removed from the bench. He is paid by hard earned money of the citizens of Washington State called tax dollars and he is suppose to do his job impartially that is part of the job description. He is to serve out his duties to all the citizens of Washington State, not just a few. One of those duties is performing same-sex marriage rites. In essence he is shirking his duties and should be held accountable, pure and simple.
What religion is that. Is that religion a follower of Jesus? If it is go back and reread the book.
Koo Koo for Coco puffs.
Its people like that who give the rest of us Christians a bad name. I am still trying to find the passage in the Bible where God tells us to judge for him. Oh wait, its cuz it doesnt exsist!!! GO GAY MARRIAGE EQUALITY FOR ALL!!!!
He’s a public servant and therefore he doesn’t have choice in this as far as I can tell. However, he does know the laws better than I. The good news is that he’s right. There are others who are willing to take on the responsibility.
He’s a public servant and therefore he doesn’t have choice in this as far as I can tell. However, he does know the laws better than I. The good news is that he’s right. There are others who are willing to take on the responsibility.
Hmmmm…… Should this joker even be on tue bench?
Hmmmm…… Should this joker even be on tue bench?
Activist judge……LOL
Activist judge……LOL
Separation of church & state! Sound familiar?
Separation of church & state! Sound familiar?
Shame!
Shame!
Let the dumbass be a bigot.
Let the dumbass be a bigot.
D BAG OF THE MONTH!
D BAG OF THE MONTH!
Don’t vote him out. Arrest him immediately, and appoint him a public defender.
Don’t vote him out. Arrest him immediately, and appoint him a public defender.
Look, he has the right to abstain from a practice that goes against his religion. PERIOD. There are plenty of other JPs that will officiate. He isn’t the only guy in Washington that has the ability to marry people. This is why the government should have no place in marriage, any marriage.
His job is to see to the justice and dignity of all people not just those he agrees with. He needs to be removed immediately.
As much as I think the man is stupid, and probably a bigot, it SHOULD be his right to say “hey. This is against my religious beliefs. I won’t do ___.” Otherwise, our system will discriminate and lose potentially great people from serving because of their religious beliefs. We absolutely can’t tell someone that they HAVE to do something against their religious beliefs. Our system of government was designed this way for a reason. He even clearly says this is not a political stand, and there are other judges available. He just can’t reconcile that with his beliefs.
It’s stupid, but it’s right.
I mean, if the giant spaghetti monster told me that I can’t shake left-handed people’s hands, that’s pretty offensive to leftie’s. But it is my right to believe in the spaghetti monster and live my life as closley to It’s word. It would be unjust for you to tell me that I HAVE to go against my religion–that would be the same as telling someone they HAVE to worship the spaghetti monster.
It’s against what we stand for in America. So, yeah, the guy has screwed up religious beliefs. But that’s his right; to believe in nonsense.
In America, you can’t tell someone they have to do something that goes against their religious beliefs. Just like no one has the right to tell me that I do have to do something, in accordance with someone else’s religious beliefs. There are other judges out there–go to them. As much as I dislike this man, you can’t force him to change his religion. It’s against the law.
Then remove him from the bench
His post is not a religious post. He is a public servant – to serve ALL of the public, bound to abide by the laws of his state. Separation of church and state must be upheld. If he cannot perform his duties based on his faith, then he cannot perform his job. He needs to be removed.
He is obligated. He’s supposed to serve us all, not pick and choose.
Asshole!
He works for the Government not a Religion… fire the jerk let him go be a pastor/etc.. if he has objections
What’s going on?
He shouldn’t be a judge if he can’t perform the duties of his office.
Remove him from office and keep his retirement fund since he is breaking the law and should be thrown in jail!!!
Sarah Castle — You’re forgetting who is paying his salary and for whom he works — it’s the people. Also, what about separation of church and state? The people pay the government he works for. He has duties. He swore on a bible that he would uphold the law!
ANOTHER psychotic on “The Wrong Side of History”….I’ll bet anyone he also has an ARSENAL of Assualt Weapons at home, too! :-(
As a Public Official of the Judiciary Branch, this Judge has NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to impose his CONDUCT on any American citizen because of his religious beliefs. This is OUTRAGEOUS, and he should be brought up on charges and prosecuted by the State of Washington Department of Justice and the State Attorney General.
What about separating church and state????????????????????????
you have to wonder how his bigotry will influence other decisions in his court?
He is a judge, not clergy – so he should be fired.
What religion is he — Baptist????
If he was the only judge in the state then his actions might be wrong. However, I am sure the engaged couples can find a judge, clergy, etc. who would be happy to perform their marriage ceremony. Lastly, I wouldn’t want someone like him in the room let alone performing my ceremony.
He needs to be disbarred if he will not support the law.
do your job or get fired.
Write him up a Pink slip and final paycheck.
He needs to choose his job or his religious convictions. He doesn’t have the right to hold his seat as a judge if he can’t separate the two.
Yes, so when’s he gonna be fired?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/12/1177959/-Rush-Limbaugh-s-Pants-are-on-Fire
fire his ass
u r not supposed to bring ur own bias and personal beliefs into the work place.
This piece of shit, asshat, fucktard scumbag should have his fat, bald, ugly, pompous, buy-bull thumping white ass fired. He should know the meaning of separation of church and state better than anyone and if he can’t follow the law he should be gone…
As Judge it is his duty to carry out the law. He is NOT a Minister so it is not his duty to over rule law to practice religion on a whim. It should cost him his seat. I believe when they swore him in, he promised to uphold the LAW.
I guess he needs to go back to being just a lawyer then as he is violating constitutional rights.
then he needs to either step down or be removed from office. his religious views dont count and shouldnt come into play. if he wants to say that he should become a priest.
then he needs to either step down or be removed from office. his religious views dont count and shouldnt come into play. if he wants to say that he should become a priest.
If you don’t want to do your job, then consider it gone. Quit wasting your time and taxpayer money.