Her behavior towards the two brides has been called inhumane.
Last week, a West Virginia couple, Samantha Brookover and Amanda Abramovich, were told by a deputy clerk that their marriage was wrong in the eyes of God.
Now, the clerk who made that statement is being warned that she has potentially violated the Constitution by Americans United, an advocacy group for the separation of church and state.
A letter written to the clerk’s office by Americans United reads, “We understand that Deputy County Clerk Debbie Allen recently attempted to discourage a same-sex couple from applying for a marriage license by condemning the couple’s relationship while processing the application.” The letter continues to identify that Allen’s behavior was inhumane and “flagrantly violated the couple’s constitutional rights.”
Americans United went on to explain, “By chastising the couple and expressing religious disapproval of their relationship and attempt to marry, the County violated the Equal, Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment as well as the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”
Brookover said she and Abramovich expected signs of disapproval but were horrified when the clerk said they were “an abomination.” She added that the two were “flabbergasted and hurt and angry like you wouldn’t believe.”
Jean Butcher, the County Clerk, did not reprimand Allen and simply stated, “They were issued the license, and that was the main thing.”
However, Americans United is calling out for support in stopping religion-based discrimination against LGBT individuals. The group stated, “Decision after decision has reinforced that government officials have no constitutional right to direct unwanted religious messages at the public. Whether issuing marriage licenses or fulfilling their other responsibilities, County officials have no right to make the promotion of religion a part of their job description.”