Barbara MacEwen

The anti-marriage equality group, New Yorkers For Constitutional Freedoms, has established what they are calling “The Courage Fund,” a fund to support any individual (such as municipal clerks) who have to choose between their job and their “religious beliefs” on marriage.

The Alliance Defense Fund is coming to the aid of New York city and town clerks, advising them that it’s perfectly legal to discriminate against gay couples when issuing marriage licenses, because state statute requires New York employers “accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs.”

The town clerk in Barker, N.Y. has announced her resignation to avoid having to issue marriage licenses to gay couples when New York’s marriage equality law takes effect July 24.

As marriage equality becomes law across New York state on July 24, same-sex couples looking to wed in Volney, N.Y. will likely encounter a disapproving town clerk.