Rosemary Centi is the second New York
clerk to quit her position rather than participating in the marrying
of gay and lesbian couples, Albany-based
CBS affiliate WRGB reported.
Citing her Roman Catholic faith, Centi
resigned from her position as the Town of Guiderland's official
marriage officer. She, however, will remain in her post as the
town's clerk.
New York last month became the sixth –
and most populous – state to legalize gay marriage after Governor
Andrew Cuomo signed a marriage bill approved by lawmakers. The law
takes effect on Sunday, July 24, and several cities, including New
York City, have announced they'll open on the law's first day.
On Tuesday, Laura Fotusky, the town
clerk for Barker, New York stepped down rather than sign marriage
licenses for gay couples.
Fotusky also said she quit because of
her faith. Her last day is July 21.
“I would be compromising my moral
conscience by participating in licensing same-sex couples,” Fotusky
said. “I had to choose between my job and my god.”
The 56-year-old Fotusky posted her
resignation letter on the website of New
Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a group that campaigned
against the law.
Opponents of the legislation have
announced demonstrations
in Rochester, Albany, Manhattan and Buffalo on the first day the law
takes effect.