At least five Florida counties have stopped performing courthouse weddings in the wake of recent marriage equality decisions. Some cite tighter budgets for the new year as their decision for the change, but others hint that it’s a way to avoid marrying same-sex couples.
Duval County, which encompasses Jacksonville, announced Jan. 1 that it would cease the long-standing tradition of performing courthouse weddings rather than marry gay couples, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Watermark left a phone message and sent an email to the office of Duval County Clerk Ronnie Fussell, but has not yet heard back.
A similar situation unfolded in Clay County. County Clerk Tara S. Green did not immediately return a phone message left by Watermark to clarify her office’s reasons behind canceling all wedding ceremonies at the courthouse in Green Cove Springs, located in north Florida. The website’s online application for marriage licenses still lists “groom” and “bride” in blue and pink sections, respectively.
Phone calls to Baker County, just west of Jacksonville, were not returned either. Similarly to Clay and Duval counties, news outlets reported that weddings held at the courthouse would no longer be an option for couples, regardless of their gender. Watermark has sent an email to the office of Baker County Clerk of Courts Stacie Harvey and is awaiting a response.
Clerks of courts in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in the Panhandle also made similar announcements that they were ending courthouse ceremonies, but seemed to relate it more to budgets than same-sex marriages. Santa Rosa County Clerk Donald Spencer and J.D. Peacock have not yet returned telephone messages left by Watermark asking for clarification on their decisions.
