AP Poll: Support for SSM closely divided; majority prioritize religious freedom

[Brittain33]

I wouldn't consider issuing a license to be equivalent to officiating at the ceremony.

This.

Especially if your job is to issue licenses to people according to the law of the land, as opposed to performing marriages according to the doctrines of your church. People keep trying to elide these two.

[Brittain33]

Who is trying to elide these two?

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, for one. He's the first one who comes to mind encouraging county officials to have a religious opt-out from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ken-paxton-texas-official-says-state-clerks-can-deny-gay-marriage-licences-1.3131422

Let me state now, I fully understand the discomfort of county clerks in conservative areas who have objections to same-sex marriage and who never expected this to be part of their jobs. But I suggest that the onus is on them to find a way to reconcile their beliefs with their job responsibilities, either by finding a viable alternate channel for people to get the license as easily as an opposite-sex couple would, or if they absolutely can't work it out, to step aside for someone who can actually do the job they've been hired to do.