FORREST CITY, Ark. — Same sex, difference sex, it doesn’t matter.
No one’s getting married at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
The judge there refuses to marry same-sex couples, so he’s just not going to marry anyone.
A sign on the door tells you if you’re looking to get married, you’ll have to go someplace else.
“I’m not willing to marry a couple of the same gender,” said Judge Gary Hughes.
Hughes said he won’t perform same-sex marriages because they violate Biblical principals.
The state told him he had to marry all or none, and he went with none.
“We have the right to have a policy that we don’t perform any marriages,” said Hughes.
A few blocks from the court house we spoke with two women married for many years.
“It’s saying what he said he wasn’t going to do. If I can’t marry who I want I’m not going to marry anybody,” said Brenda King.
But one chair over Bonnie Wilson said, people wanting marriages will just have to deal.
She said she was following the Bible.
“I agree with it. They need to go somewhere else,” said Wilson.
If other judges in other counties do the same thing, it may be tough getting married at any courthouse.
Judge Hughes said if someone steps up and is willing to do the marriages that’s alright with him.
“Even ministers or local people who are qualified. We plan to keep a list and make referrals,” said Hughes.
