An Ohio judge assigned to officiate in marriages has refused to wed a same-sex couple two weeks after the US Supreme Court made gay marriage legal in the US.
Judge C. Allen McConnell of the Toledo Municipal Court declined to marry Carolyn Wilson and her partner on Monday at the courthouse.
McConnell later said his refusal was based on his personal and Christian beliefs.
"On Monday, July 6, I declined to marry a non-traditional couple during my duties assignment," he said, according to Reuters. "The declination was based upon my personal and Christian beliefs established over many years. I apologise to the couple for the delay they experienced and wish them the best."
Wilson told 12ABC Action News that "it's kind of surreal."
"I grew up never thinking that would happen to me and then it was about to happen and then it wasn't going to happen and then it happened," she said.
The couple went to the Toledo Municipal Court on Monday and paid $15 to be married by the duty judge between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., based on the rules.
"It was a shock. I was angry, embarrassed, a little bit humiliated like we finally have the right and now they're saying we don't have the right," said Wilson.
The couple were eventually married by Judge Bill Connelly.
Deputy court administrator Michael Zenk told Reuters that it was the first time that the court was asked to perform a same-sex marriage.
"It is the policy of the court to accommodate wedding requests and we will continue to do that for both opposite and same-sex marriage," said Zenk.
McConnell still refuses to perform gay marriages and said he will "continue to perform traditional marriages during my duties assignment."
He said he will seek the advice of the Ohio Supreme Court "as to whether or not I can opt out of the rotation. Upon receipt of the advisory opinion from Supreme Court, I will abide by its decision."
