Judge Gilbert Breedlove - The face of a Bigot

Magistrate Judge Gilbert Breedlove who looks like he doesn't avoid the sin of glutton

The number of faux Christian martyrs continues to grow as ignorance embracing individuals claim persecution and/or resign from positions rather than treat gays as equals under the civil laws.  These small minded bigots cite the Bible and their "deeply held religious beliefs" even as they pick and choose which Bible passages to observe and which ones to ignore as if they were ordering from a Chinese menu. Do  these "godly folk" refuse to wear cotton/polyester blend clothing?  Do they avoid eating shellfish and comply with any number of prohibitions in Leviticus?  Of course not.  They are bigots and hypocrites that deserve to be shunned by decent society.  The latest example is a magistrate judge in North Carolina who has resigned rather than marry same sex couples.  USA Today looks at his proud bigotry.  Here are highlights:

BRYSON CITY, N.C. — A Swain County judge resigned Monday so he would not have to perform same-sex marriages.

Magistrate Judge Gilbert Breedlove, 57, who also is an ordained minister, has been a magistrate for nearly 24 years.

"It was my only option," Breedlove said. "We were directed we had to perform the marriages, and that was just something I couldn't do because of my religious beliefs."

North Carolina's same-sex marriage ban was struck down Oct. 10. The judgment followed a Supreme Court announcement that it would not hear the case of a 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in July that struck down Virginia's gay marriage ban. The 4th Circuit has jurisdiction over North Carolina.

"I was Christian when I started," Breedlove said. "Then, the law didn't require me to perform something that was against my religious belief. Now that law has changed its requirements."

Bryson City, tucked between the Cherokee Indian reservation and national forest land in western North Carolina about 65 miles from Asheville, is a conservative, primarily Christian community, said Breedlove, who mentioned that his friends and family are supportive of his decision.

Although employed as a part-time pastor at his church, Breedlove's main source of income came from his position as a magistrate, he said. But the former staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps is not worried about the pay cut.

"That's one of things about being a Christian," said Breedlove, who would not identify his church by name, saying he didn't want it to get negative attention in response to his personal decision. "You are able to serve the Lord, and the Lord will provide."

"This is part of an effort to hype up a few small cases," said Sgro, reiterating that the issue is about the duties of a state employee, not about individual freedoms or religion.

Equality North Carolina issued a news release Friday calling memos sent out by the N.C. Values Coalition and the Alliance Defending Freedom misleading. The memos encouraged state officials with "sincere religious or moral beliefs" to refrain from issuing marriage licenses.

"If you hold a job or any position that serves the public or the state, then you have to carry out the duties of that job," Sgro said. "Hundreds and hundreds of people are being married by employees of the state across North Carolina with no problem."

The North Carolina judiciary is better off without a bigot like Breedlove.  As for Bryson City, it sounds much like areas in Southwest Virginia that whine about limited economic opportunities, yet embrace ignorance and bigotry that make them anathema to progressive businesses.  As for Breedlove himself, I can help but wonder if his ancestors didn't dress up in white robes and use the Bible to justify their racism.