MOREHEAD, Ky. – The latest on a county clerk in Kentucky who has defied a judge's order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples (all times local):
9:40 a.m.
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."
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9:30 a.m.
A second gay couple has arrived at the Rowan County Clerk's office in Kentucky for a marriage license.
James Yates and William Smith Jr. were turned away a month ago. They've been a couple for nearly a decade.
On Thursday morning, they described a disconnect between the clerk's actions and their experience in the community of Morehead, a college town they say has long been open and accepting.
They held hands as they walked into the clerk's office.
From the street, gay-rights activists shouted "Good luck!" and held signs reading "clerk not clergy" and "obey the law."
The couple then waited in line.
Earlier Thursday morning, clerk Kim Davis' office turned away gay couple David Moore and David Ermold. On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered her to issue licenses to gay couples, rejecting her argument involving religious freedom and her Christina beliefs.
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9 a.m.
A Kentucky clerk's office has turned away a gay couple seeking a marriage license, 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 David Moore and David Ermold on Thursday morning.
Deputy clerk Nathan Davis says the office was advised by attorneys with the Christian law firm Liberty Counsel to continue refusing same-sex couples as it appeals the order.
Kim 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.
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