Denton County, Texas is denying marriage to same-sex couples, openly defying the U.S. Supreme Court's historic decision on Friday that ruled it the legal right of all, straight or gay, to be married.
A notice posted by Denton County Clerk Juli Luke on the door of the county court house Friday morning said federal law now contradicted state law and that she would seek legal counsel from Denton County District Attorney Paul Johnson, according to Fox 4 News.
One same-sex couple in The Colony said they started calling other county satellite offices to find one that would issue a license, only to be refused as well.
Denton County Judge Mary Horn said that she would refuse any same-sex couple that came to her with the request to be wed.
Throughout that period, couples who came to get married were declined.
Denton County District Attorney Paul Johnson stated later on that the decision on whether or not to issue licenses belonged to the clerk's office.
A sign on the clerk's door said that the office would not be issuing same-sex licenses today because of "changes that must be made for our vendor." No explanation was provided.
This game of cat and mouse continued throughout the day, with the clerk turning away same-sex couples, blaming it on software.
"It appears this decision now places our great state in a position where state law contradicts federal law," Luke wrote, according to Denton RC.
Later that evening, activists supporting the Supreme Court ruling held a rally in Denton Square, Dallas Morning News reported.
Among the areas that are supporting same-sex couples looking to obtain marriage licenses is Dallas County, where Democrats hold many more elected offices. Dallas County clerks are issuing marriage licenses and justices are standing by for marry couples who receive their license.
