N. Carolina OKs Gay Marriage Opt-Out

North Carolina lawmakers enacted a law Thursday that allows state court officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if the ceremony would conflict with their “sincerely held religious” beliefs. The state’s House voted 69-41 to override Gov. Pat McCrory’s veto. McCrory, a Republican, has said he believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman but previously vetoed the bill anyway, saying, “no public official who voluntarily swears to support and defend the Constitution and to discharge all duties of their office should be exempt from upholding that oath.” After the House passed the bill on Thursday, McCrory said it was “a disappointing day for the rule of law and the process of passing legislation in North Carolina.”