After a same-sex couple was denied a marriage license in New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has not only opened an investigation into the case, he has offered to officiate the couple’s wedding in Albany.
Dylan Toften and Thomas Hurd sought the license in Root, N.Y., about 50 miles from Albany. But the town’s clerk, Laurel Eriksen, denied the couple’s request. The Human Rights Division is investigating why Ms. Eriksen refused the couple their license.
Mr. Toften wrote on Facebook on Monday that Ms. Eriksen denied the request because she personally objects to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. Ms. Eriksen told Robert Subik, Root’s town attorney, she did not grant the license because the couple had not made an appointment.
Though Ms. Eriksen did mention her personal objection to same-sex marriage to the couple, Mr. Subik said, she did not deny the couple the license because of her personal views. He said people requesting licenses are required to make appointments in advance because Ms. Eriksen is a part-time employee.
Mr. Toften deferred comment to the state. Ms. Eriksen could not be reached for comment, and Mr. Subik said he advised Ms. Eriksen to not talk to the news media.
Rachel B. Tiven, the chief executive of Lambda Legal, a nonprofit that advocates for the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said this case reflects a growing trend of individuals refusing services to L.G.B.T.Q. people, particularly following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission in June. The court sided with a baker who would not make a wedding cake for a gay couple on religious objections.
“There is a campaign to undermine marriage equality by encouraging people to say I have an objection to treating gay couples equally,” Ms. Tiven said.
Ms. Tiven added that Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Courthas also raised fears of continuing efforts to undermine marriage equality.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Cuomo called the denial of the wedding license “an unconscionable act of discrimination that goes against our values as New Yorkers.”
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