Dutch registrars banned from refusing to perform gay weddings

Friday, 18th April 2008
By: George Conger

Marriage registrars may not cite reasons of conscience or religious belief as grounds for refusing to solemnize gay marriage, the Dutch Equal Treatment Commission (CGB) ruled on April 15.

The CGB ruled in favour of a town council that had advertised for a marriage registrar but set a requirement that applicants must be prepared to perform gay weddings. A local authority was "not violating the equal treatment law if it refuses to appoint a marriage registrar who does not wish to marry persons of the same sex on grounds of religion,” the CGB held. the rest