From Eric Dondero:

Yet another New York town clerk is refusing to sign marriage certificates for gay couples based upon her religious beliefs. Rose Marie Belforti has submitted a letter to her local town council expressing her ojections. She suggests they allow a deputy clerk to sign the certificates instead. Three or four clerks in other NY towns have similarly refused thus far.

Gay rights groups are demanding the clerks sign the papers, or resign. But advocates for religious liberty are suggesting that the legislature consider an exception clause, similar to conscientious objector status for military recruits opposed to war.

From AuburnPub.com "Ledyard clerk won’t sign gay marriage licenses" Aug. 12:

Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, said about a dozen clerks have reached out to him to see what their options are now that same-sex marriage is legal.

“The governor and the Legislature should include some of this language in this same-sex marriage bill,” McGuire said of the exemption. “I’m still opposed to same-sex marriage, but at the very least, they could have made this accommodation and their putting some people in some very awkward positions now including clerks like this. Most of the small towns aren’t going to have an issue with a clerk that does not want to violate her religious convictions on this and they can very simply assign a deputy clerk or some other person to act as the marriage officer.”

Belforti and her husband (Facebook page) are dairy farmers, operating a "heritage breed" cattle farm in Kings Ferry. She is a graduate of Cornell Univ.