There are Racists and A-Holes in all 50 states......none are better and none are worse.....(Well, Maybe Alabama
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it all depends on the experiences you have when you visit an area. All it takes is one a-hole to make you think that northerners are snobs or southerners are inbread. You could meet 10 people and 9 of them could be the salt of the earth....but that 10th one is the one you will reference as to character of the area. Its easier to lump people together in a category than try and see the differences.
Earlier it was stated the JOP was an elected official. If that is true then he is drawing money from tax dollars.....possibly this couple's tax dollars. So he needs to put his personal beliefs aside and do his job, which was to issue a marriage license. After that, if he didn't want to perform the ceremony for personal reasons...provided its not a requirement of his elected position....he can pass.
If it is part of his elected position then he has a choice...marry them or not. With that choice comes options.....if he marries them then he gets paid...if he doesn't then he gets fired....but that his choice. If he can sleep better at night with whatever he chooses...great. His beliefs are intact and he can find other employment...