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State Representative Jim Buchy
Conformity is
not the Answer for Gay Marriage in Ohio
The United States Supreme Court made a landmark decision this past year
to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. This ruling has led some
leaders to introduce reactionary legislation that will either open
Ohio’s doors to gay marriage or result in a tangled legal mess for
Ohio’s taxpayers. I plan to maintain my position in opposition to
forcing anyone to perform a union they disagree with on any grounds.
Persons entering into same-sex marriages should not be discriminated
against, and those who are against it should not be forced to change
their beliefs on the matter. I don’t believe anyone should ever have to
compromise their beliefs or be discriminated against for standing by
them. This is why I am in favor of keeping Ohio law in place to
protect a pastor’s and public official’s right to refrain from
performing a marriage ceremony contrary to their beliefs.
We must continue to address the same-sex marriage issue in Ohio, but we
must be clear about the consequences that could happen if a bill was
passed to confront this issue. A bill, if not properly
scrutinized, could send marriage backward in Ohio by limiting rights
that pastors and other offices already have. It is already a
common practice for pastors to choose who they marry, and we must
ensure that we avoid any action that would invalidate that discretion,
even if unintentional.
Under no circumstances should an individual or organization be forced
to participate in a marriage that goes against their beliefs whether
they are a pastor, public official, business owner, or religious
organization. One of our basic rights as Americans is freedom of
religion and no court ruling should ever limit that ability, even for
public servants.
We need to consider comprehensive reform of marriage in Ohio to ensure
that all parties are properly protected under the law. While we
remain firm on our beliefs, we must also protect the rights of pastors,
public officials, and others to stand strong behind their
convictions.
Please give me your opinion on this topic and others in the news this
month by completing an online survey at tinyurl.com/buchyjune2016
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