Attorneys: West Virginia clerk apologizes to lesbian couple

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Michael Virtanen, Associated Press
Updated 2:27 pm, Wednesday, August 30, 2017


MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — A lesbian couple are receiving a public apology and $10,000 in damages from a county clerk's office in West Virginia where they were disparaged when applying for a marriage license last year, the couple's attorneys said Wednesday.

Amanda Abramovich and Samantha Brookover sued Gilmer County Deputy Clerk Debbie Allen and Clerk Jean Butcher, saying Allen told the couple while processing their application that they were an "abomination," what they were doing was wrong and that God would "deal" with them.

As part of the settlement, the clerk's office has agreed to issue a public apology in a news release that also will announce the monetary settlement and include a promise to refrain from such treatment in the future, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Mayer Brown law firm, the two groups that filed the suit, said in a statement.
 
The lawsuit alleged the clerks violated the couple's equal-protection rights under the constitution, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 ruling upholding the rights of same-sex couples to wed.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Attorneys-West-Virginia-clerk-apologizes-to-12161556.php

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Deputy Clerk Debbie Allen

[irisblue]

1. SWEET!

👭👍.

[RKP5637]

2. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[wryter2000]

3. Love Americans United

A good place to send donations if you have a few extra bucks.

[DFW]

7. Been doing that for a LONG time

They're one of my favorites, too!

[TomSlick]

11. Me too.

A good investment in the future of the country.

[SoCalMusicLover]

4. Nice Of The Public To Foot The Bill

Any word about whether the ignorant clerk was actually fired or fined? I'm guessing not.

[Iggo]

10. Fairly certain the apology precluded the firing.

Her church will probably take up a collection for the rest.

[raccoon]

12. Yeah, her ass definitely should've been fired. MT

[Corvo Bianco]

5. Hell yeah!

The bible isn't your friend clerky, next time it might cost you your job!

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[MrScorpio]

8. I would love to have a job where I gave out marriage licenses as a county clerk.

All the people coming in, so in love... That would be great.

[procon]

9. Its the Church Lady from SNL! nt

[J_William_Ryan]

13. Bigotry and hate in Trump's America

Trump voters, no doubt.

[Judi Lynn]

14. W.Va. office settles with lesbian couple an official called an abomination: report

BY OLIVIA BEAVERS - 08/31/17 11:50 AM EDT

A West Virginia county clerk's office is paying a lesbian couple $10,000 and apologizing to settle a lawsuit after an official allegedly called the couple an “abomination,” The Associated Press reported.

Deputy Clerk Debbie Allen made the comment as she processed Amanda Abramovich and Samantha Brookover's marriage license in Gilmer County, adding that God would “deal” with them, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Allen allegedly told the two women she was a Christian and called the couple an “abomination” in a tirade that lasted several minutes.

Another clerk piped in, saying Allen had a “religious right” to tell the couple off, according to the complaint.

More:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/348701-lesbian-couple-wins-10000-in-damages-after-county-clerk-called