ABSTRACT
Conscientious Objection to Same-Sex Marriage: Carving Exemptions Same-sex marriage (SSM) has recently been legalized in several Western nations and is likely to become legal in others. 1 Where it has become legal, a recurrent issue has been the rights of those who usually conduct marriages to refuse to do so in the case of same-sex couples. Some religious ministers, clergy, marriage celebrants, commissioners, and registrars (hereafter collectively referred to as ‘celebrants’) may have a conscientious objection to conducting marriage ceremonies for people of the same sex. Their objection is usually grounded in sincere religious beliefs about the propriety of homosexual relationships.
