Rowan County, Ky. Clerk Kim Davis
Kim Davis refused to issue marriage licenses to two same-sex couples this morning (Tuesday, Sept. 1), a day after the U.S. Supreme Court denied her appeal to stay a lower court decision ordering her to begin issuing marriage licenses immediately.
Davis is county clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky. She has refused to issue marriage licenses to any couples to avoid issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples because she objects to same-sex marriage on religious grounds.
Now William Smith and James Yates, a couple for nine years who have been denied marriage licenses by Davis’ office three times, have filed a suit in federal court against Davis and county judge Walter Blevins, who The Advocate reports has also refused to issue them a license.
They are just the latest couple to sue Davis over her refusal to issue licenses. Four couples, two same sex and two opposite sex, filed suit in July. A federal judge ordered in August she must fulfill her duties as an elected official and issue marriage licenses.
Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, has ordered Davis to comply with the rulings.
Attorney General Jack Conway, also a Democrat, has said he would launch an investigation into whether Davis has failed to fulfill her duties as an elected official.
While Davis has lost each consecutive appeal, she maintains issuing licenses would infringe upon her religious liberty. She is supported in her refusal by the right-wing Liberty Counsel.
