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ACLU: Public Workers Can’t Refuse To Issue Marriage Licenses

Associated Press0

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s branch of the American Civil Liberties Union is opposing comments the attorney general made last week about allowing public officials to object to issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The ACLU of South Dakota sent a letter to Marty Jackley on Wednesday that takes issue with comments he made in a July 2 interview with The Associated Press. The attorney general said it would be a “commonsense solution” for a county employee with religious objections to have someone else issue a license.

The ACLU says government offices should be equally open to all couples and says public employees have a duty to impartially administer the law. Specifically, it says “forcing” same-sex couples to drive to a separate county for a marriage license is not equal treatment.

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