Less than 24 hours after Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis was ordered by a U.S. District Judge to issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples both straight and gay this morning her office was still denying marriage licenses and turned away no less than two same-sex couples.
Via the Associated Press:
A Kentucky clerk’s office has turned away two gay couples seeking marriage licenses, defying a federal judge’s order that dismissed her argument involving religious freedom. Hours after the judge’s order to issue licenses to same-sex couples, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis’ office still turned away the two couples, one after the other, on Thursday morning. Davis has argued that her Christian beliefs prevent her from issuing licenses to same-sex couples. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled gay marriage bans unconstitutional, Davis stopped issuing licenses to any couple, gay or straight. Five couples sued her, and U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning on Wednesday ordered her to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling. On the street Thursday, gay-rights activists held signs reading “clerk not clergy” and “obey the law.”
Deputy clerk Nathan Davis, Kim Davis’ son, said the office was advised by attorneys with the anti-gay “Christian” law group the Liberty Counsel to continue refusing same-sex couples as it appeals the order that was filed Wednesday.
Back2Stonewall.com reached out to Kentucky Attorney General’s office to inquire if Jack Conway the current AG of Kentucky would be filing contempt charges against Ms. Davis. The Statehouse switchboard operator replied that “Mr. Conway sent out an email this morning saying that he would not get involved in this case”.
On June 29th Conway issued the following statement: “The government cannot pick and choose when it comes to issuing marriage licenses and the benefits they confer. Any clerk that refuses to issue marriage licenses is opening himself or herself to potential legal liability and sanctions.”
Conway, a Democrat (cough) who is running Kentucky Governor in a heated race against Tea Party darling Mike Bevin on July 10th updated his statement when asked if he won the Governors race he would be open to changing Kentucky law to accommodate county clerks upset about same sex marriage licenses.
“As your next Governor, I am willing to work toward any legislative solution in a regular session that upholds the Supreme Court decision and allows county clerks some flexibility so we can all move forward”
You can call Handsome (Spineless) Jack Conway’s office at 502-696-5300 and leave a comment.
Them them Back2Stonewall.com sent you.
