Rural Ky. clerk says online system would solve objections to issuing same-sex marriage licenses

Casey County, Kentucky

A county clerk in Southern Kentucky who has refused to issue any marriage licenses, citing his objections to the Supreme Court ruling supporting same-sex marriages, said there is a simple solution to the problem—create an online system that issues marriage licenses, Jack Brammer reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Casey County Clerk Casey Davis said an online system would enable same-sex couples to get marriage licenses without forcing county clerks to go against their religious beliefs. The county clerk in Rowan County, in northeastern Kentucky, has also refused to issue licenses. (An earlier version of this item incorrectly said they had limited their refusal to same-sex couples.)

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear said he would meet with Davis but stated, "my position is clear because I took the same oath they did, and that oath is to uphold that constitutional ruling, regardless as to what you feel about it. But I'll talk to them. I certainly encourage them to go ahead and perform their duties and move along." Beshear also rejected Davis's call for a special session of the legislature to enact online marriage licensing. Earlier, about 1,000 supporters rallied in support of Davis, Larry Rowell and Nicole Burton report for the Casey County News.

Officials in Decatur County, Tennessee, say three employees in the clerk's office "have resigned from their positions because of their opposition" to the decision and their religious beliefs, Tyler Whetstone reports for The Jackson Sun.

A same-sex couple that was turned away while applying for a marriage license last week in Hood County, Texas, is suing the county clerk, who cited religious beliefs in refusing to issue the license, reports KTVT in Dallas. The clerk did say that someone else in her office would accommodate the couple.