Law Protects Florida Pastors Who Say No To Gay Marriages

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Clergy members who refuse to perform wedding ceremonies because of “sincerely held religious beliefs” will soon have backing from the state of Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Thursday, March 10 that protects churches, religious organizations and clergy who refuse to perform wedding ceremonies when “such action would violate a sincerely held religious belief.” The law also prohibits government sanctions against religious organizations and clergy who make the refusals and bars some legal actions and penalties.

Equality Florida, an advocacy group, initially raised concerns about the bill’s potential to pave the way for discrimination. After some back-and-forth with the bill’s sponsors and amendments that limited the bill’s scope, the group took a neutral stand on its passage.

“While we still believe this bill is an unnecessary duplication of existing law, we are pleased Florida will not go down the path of Georgia, where an expanded ‘pastor protection’ bill would allow LGBT people and others to be refused goods and services,” Equality Florida’s governmental affairs manager, Carlos Guillermo Smith, said in a media release.

The new law goes into effect July 1, 2016.

Scott also signed bills related to absentee voting, guardianship, jury service and title insurance, among others, on Thursday. To read the full list of new laws signed by the governor, visit the state online.

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