Gerald Gura: Government agencies cannot discriminate
The writer of the March 17 letter “Protecting rights” asserted that Senate Bill 2 is constitutional because everybody’s rights are protected. I beg to differ.
Government agencies may not discriminate even where individuals might be able to do so in their private actions. Magistrates are government officials. Refusing to issue marriage licenses because they disapprove of same-sex marriages is not permissible because it is action by a governmental official and a government agency.
Gerald Gura
Chapel Hill
This story was originally published April 12, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Gerald Gura: Government agencies cannot discriminate."