New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) is pleased to launch the "Courage Fund". The Courage Fund has been established to assist courageous municipal clerks and other people of conscience in New York State who oppose same-sex "marriage" from harassment, denial of rightful promotion, or unfair termination for invoking New York State law protecting their sincerely-held religious beliefs.
 
Laura Fotusky is just the beginning.
 
When Governor Andrew Cuomo's pen signed same-sex "marriage" legislation into law, many municipal clerks believed that beginning July 24 they would be required to issue gay "marriage" licenses and officiate for same-sex couples.
 
As a result, Laura L. Fotusky, Barker town clerk, became what is believed to be the first New York State clerk to actually resign, rather than place her name on a same-sex "marriage" license. On July 11, 2011, the Broome County clerk tendered her resignation to the Barker Town Board. In her resignation letter, Fotusky wrote:

 
"I would be compromising my moral conscience if I participated in the (same-sex 'marriage') licensing procedure. Therefore, I will be resigning..."

 
The gay nuptial legislation has left numerous civil servants like Mrs. Fotusky in a moral quandary. Their conscience objects to participating in an exercise that violates their sincerely-held religious beliefs, but some powerful elected officials have indicated that a refusal to do so would cost these officials their jobs.
 
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms Executive Director Rev. Jason J. McGuire, said, "People of conscience should not have to choose between feeding their family or their faith."
 
NYCF was stirred by Laura's courageous story and is committed to matching the $25,000 salary that she surrendered, rather than compromise her convictions.
 
McGuire continued, "Imagine the power of 25,000 Christians from all across the nation sending one dollar to let Laura know that she is not alone. That would be a message of Christian testimony the culture could not ignore."
 
"Now imagine if every concerned citizen from all across America did whatever they could, $10, $100 or $1000 to fight for marriage in the Empire State. We could turn back the tide in New York and send a message that resounds across the nation," McGuire concluded.
 
Now the battle begins. Mrs. Fotusky is just the beginning. Many more committed Christians with moral objections to same-sex "marriage" will make courageous decisions to stand for the authentic definition of marriage. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms is committed to assisting their stand as well.
 
NYCF encourages municipal clerks to review the Alliance Defense Fund Memo to learn more about their right to object to issuing same-sex "marriage" licenses.