Over 500 Rockingham County residents showed up at a rally Tuesday in support of a magistrate who resigned. John Kallam Jr. says his religious beliefs prevent him from marrying same-sex couples.
Kallam would have faced suspension had he not stepped down. He told the Wentworth crowd that he wanted to make his departure from the courthouse as honorable as possible.
The News & Record of Greensboro reports that Kallam last week sent a letter to Chief District Judge Fred Wilkins that he couldn't fulfill his oath of office after same-sex marriage became legal in North Carolina.
Kallam had been a magistrate for 12 years.
Kallam was joined by Senate leader Phil Berger, who organized the event.
Berger, a Republican, says he will introduce legislation protecting state officials who refuse to issue marriage licenses or perform weddings for same-sex couples.
Equality NC, a nonprofit group that supports LGBT rights, issued a statement condemning Berger, and what they called "futile efforts to use taxpayer dollars to challenge the freedom marry in North Carolina".
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