A Syracuse, New York, municipal court judge is under investigation for refusing to marry a lesbian couple and is being asked to resign.
Felicia Pitts-Davies was accused of refusing to marry two young women, Shauntay and Nicola Davies (no relation), even though she had recently married a straight couple. He is being investigated by the state Judicial Conduct Commission. The women spoke to local media. central china The judge reportedly left the courtroom on November 16th after seeing the couple’s upcoming wedding.
“All of a sudden, she looked at us, threw her hair back, and walked away like she was fed up or something, and I noticed that and was like, ‘What’s going on?'” Then another. The judge came,” Shontay said.
Municipal Court Judge Mary Ann Dougherty LGBTQ+, then officiated at the couple’s wedding. According to reports, Pitts-Davis told Doherty that they could not marry because it violated his religious beliefs. syracuse.com.
An investigation into Pitts-Davis was subsequently launched, with court spokesman Al Baker telling the outlet: “We are aware of this allegation and have referred the matter to the state Commission on Judicial Conduct,” it further explained, adding that “discrimination of any kind is discrimination.” UCS does not tolerate it. New York state law gives judges the power, but not the obligation, to perform marriages. Judges who choose to perform marriages must not unlawfully discriminate in determining which couples get married. ”
Pitts-Davis, who was elected to a 10-year term in 2020, has faced multiple calls to resign since then. Syracuse City Auditor Alexander Marion, who is also LGBTQ+, said: statement He said he was “deeply disturbed” to learn of the charges and urged the judge to “resign so we can ensure that all people in our community receive equal treatment under the law.”
“If she fails to do so, the Court Administration should immediately suspend her from the court,” he concluded.
The New York State Marriage Equality Act of 2011 guarantees marriage equality under state law. Voters also signed into law the Equal Rights Amendment, which codifies protections for LGBTQ+ people against discrimination into the state constitution, in a November referendum.
a petition The LGBTQ+ group CNY Pride has also collected nearly 1,300 signatures, calling on Pitts-Davis to “immediately vacate the position so that it can be filled by someone who truly believes in the fair and impartial application of New York law.” I am asking him to resign.”
“Judge Pitts-Davis violated her judicial oath and disgraced the fundamental tenets of her elected office,” the petition reads. “The LGBTQ+ community in Central New York and its allies deserve far better recognition from the judicial system than this biased and unethical judge.”
Shauntay and Nicola went on to say that they didn’t think much about the change at the time, choosing instead to focus on the special day, but Nicola said, “I’ve been frustrated ever since. Because I’m thinking about whether something happened or something happened,” he added. Maybe she’ll marry us, but she always didn’t want to marry us because we’re lesbians, and that’s frustrating. ”
They have not yet allowed the incident to put a damper on their future, as Shawntay urges: Never let anyone dictate what your life should be. Love who you love. ”
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
