MOREHEAD, Ky., (Reuters) – Deputies of a county clerk in rural Kentucky issued marriage licences to four gay couples yesterday after she defied a federal judge’s orders for months because as a Christian she opposes same-sex unions.
With Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis jailed for refusing to follow the orders of U.S. District Judge David Bunning, her deputies issued a marriage licence to James Yates and William Smith yesterday. The couple had previously been denied five times.
However, Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel which represents Davis, said he believes yesterday’s licences are invalid because they were not issued with her approval. Davis’ name does not appear on the licences.
“They are not worth the paper they are printed on,” Staver said, standing in front of the Grayson, Kentucky, detention center where Davis is being held. He added she had no intention of resigning as clerk.
Davis is being held in isolation and has been reading the Bible, he said.
With people weighing in on both sides, Davis’ jailing has come to symbolize the cultural gap over gay marriage in the United States.
