Critics have called the bill an ‘attack on the LGBT community’ (Photo: Getty Images)

In what has been described as a not-so-covert attack on gay marriage, a bill banning non-religious people from marrying and requiring all marriage licences be approved by a member of the clergy has been passed in Oklahoma.

The bill, which was approved by the Oklahoma state House last week and will now go to the state Senate for consideration, would restrict marriage only to people of faith.

But while it might seem on the surface like an assault on atheism, critics are saying that it is same-sex unions that the bill is not-so-stealthily attacking. By making the clergy – not judges and court clerks – the sole marriage licence issuers, it will be more difficult for gay marriages to take place.



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Rep. Todd Russ said the bill stepped from his opposition to marriage equality, which he says was ‘stuck down our throats’ (Picture: Reuters)

‘Marriage was not instituted by government,’ said Rep. Dennis Johnson, who backed the bill.

‘It was instituted by God. There is no reason for Oklahoma or any state to be involved in marriage.’

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Todd Stevenson, of Freedom Oklahoma, said the community was ‘under attack’ (Picture: Freedom Oklahoma)

Rep. Todd Russ, who sponsored the bill, told KSWO-TV that it stemmed from his personal opposition to marriage equality, saying same-sex marriage laws were ‘stuck down our throats’ by the Supreme Court despite Oklahoma voting ‘overwhelmingly’ against it.

Troy Stevenson, head of the LGBT advocacy group Freedom Oklahoma, said that the community would ‘fight back’ against the ‘discriminatory legislation’ – but added that there was a silver lining.

‘There are… 160 members of the clergy who have publicly declared their willingness to marry LGBT people [in Oklahoma],’ he said.

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