Kentucky clerk defies court, cites God, refuses to hand out licenses for same-sex marriages
A Kentucky county clerk has refused to give a marriage license to a gay couple on Tuesday on religious grounds and is now facing possible imprisonment.
According to the New York Times, Kim Davis said she refuses to hand out marriage licenses to same-sex couples "under God's authority" some hours after the Supreme Court ruled against her stand.
David Ermold and David Moore, with cameras and protesters, walked into the Rowan County Courthouse, getting Davis into a debate as the clerk repeatedly said her office would not issue any licenses.
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Davis sat in office in January and issued a statement later in the day, saying she has received numerous death threats but she has decided to stay firm on her ground, despite the rage from the LGBT community.
"To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience," her statement reads, adding that, "To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God's word."
While Moore requested for county sheriff Matt Sparks to arrest Davis, the sheriff said it is the federal court that will decide on the next move.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that the ACLU of Kentucky has filed a motion in federal court asking for Davis to be held in contempt of court for refusing to comply with the Supreme Court's order to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
Casey Davis, a fellow county clerk, stood by Davis' decision, noting that many people sacrificed their lives for religious rights and he believes Christians should be able to exercise those rights.
Davis has previously been denied an emergency application by the Supreme Court. In a one-page order, the Court refused to put a lower court ruling on hold pending appeal, slamming Davis and her religious stand.
The Apostolic Christian, on the other hand, has vowed not to resign or to relent, even under the pressure of being put behind bars.
