If you’re getting married in Denton County, getting the license isn’t the problem. Finding the right person to officiate over the ceremony is.
Justice of the Peace James R. DePiazza will marry couples, even though he’s not happy about marrying same-sex couples. But that damn state law doesn’t allow him to discriminate.
So he only has two choices: He can marry any couple with a marriage license issued by Denton County or he can marry none. He’s opted to marry couples.
But that little glitch in the law won’t stop DePiazza from helping to make it the most miserable day in your life.
DePiazza is having couples — all couples, same-sex or straight — sign a form of his own design that says same-sex marriage is against his religious beliefs. Because, after all, his religious beliefs are part of his job as justice of the peace.
And whether a same-sex couple can marry or not is just what an opposite-sex couple has on their minds on their wedding day.
And his religious beliefs are important to any couple who has decided to be married by a justice of the peace rather than clergy.
And creating his own forms is what he was elected to do.
What may be unconstitutional is a government official having members of the public sign a form regarding his religious beliefs.
DePiazza’s office is at The Colony Government Center, 6301 Main Street, The Colony.
