Despite being ordered by the Supreme Court to issue same-sex marriage licenses under federal law, Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis has refused to do so. She has now been summoned to court, along with her staff, to explain why, according to The Inquisitr.
As reported by HNGN, Davis, Rowan County clerk, stopped issuing marriage licenses altogether when it was ruled that denying licenses to same-sex couples only was unconstitutional. Davis cites her own religious beliefs for not issuing the licenses. She has been refusing to issue them since same-sex marriages were legalized nationwide in June despite previous orders from Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and a district judge.
Demonstrators supporting both sides of the issue lined up outside the clerk's offices on Tuesday, chanting and singing. At least two same-sex couples were denied their right to receive marriage licenses on Tuesday, though the office was open and doing business, according to The Detroit Free Press.
Davis received a written order from the Supreme Court to issue marriage licenses on Monday. When she walked into her office on Tuesday, Davis paused to speak with reporters. "God is good, God is good," she told them, according to Denver's ABC 7. "No marriage license will be issued today in the county, pending the appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals."
"It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act," she said.
Four couples were turned away from the building by 9:30 am Tuesday.
