Kentucky clerk refusing to grant ANY marriage licenses
A county clerk in Kentucky is refusing to issue marriage licences – for any couples.
Rowan County clerk Kim Davis has refused to grant any marriage licenses at all. Both same-sex and different-sex couples have been turned down by her.
She said the Supreme Court ruling bringing same-sex marriage to all 50 states goes against her religious beliefs. Despite warnings from the Kentucky Attorney General that a refusal would leave clerks open to litigation, Ms Davis has held on.
Now, four couples – two of whom are same-sex couples – are suing her, with help from the American Civil Liberties Union.
The lawsuit, if successful, would grant an injunction against Ms Davis, forcing her to grant licenses.
She told AP: “It’s a deep-rooted conviction; my conscience won’t allow me to do that.
“It goes against everything I hold dear, everything sacred in my life.
“No man can put a harness on his conscience. That is protected by the Kentucky Constitution, the very Constitution I took an oath to uphold.”
Same-sex couples who called the office to enquire about licenses were reportedly told: “Don’t bother coming down here.”
April Miller and Karen Roberts are one of the couples suing Ms Davis.
Ms Miller said: “This is where we live. We pay taxes here, we vote here. And we want to get married here.
Local former police officer Kevin Bass, who has offered his support to the couples, said: “God did not elect her, I did. If she objects to doing her job, she can go.”
