Kentucky couples sue for marriage licenses after gay marriage ruling

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

US | Thu Jul 2, 2015 6:40pm EDT

Kentucky couples sue for marriage licenses after gay marriage ruling

LOUISVILLE, KY. | BY STEVE BITTENBENDER

Eight people, including two same-sex couples, on Thursday sued an eastern Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to anyone following last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage, the Kentucky chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Ashland with the legal support of the ACLU, claims Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has purposefully violated the plaintiffs' rights. The lawsuit also named the county.

Prior to the Supreme Court decision, same-sex marriages were banned, but Governor Steve Beshear directed county clerks to begin accepting those applications hours after the ruling.

The plaintiffs seek to create a class action suit to force Davis to issue licenses to all eligible couples.

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Davis could not be reached to comment on Thursday, but in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday she said her religious beliefs prevented her from issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. She also said she knew a lawsuit was likely coming.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/02/us-usa-gaymarriage-kentucky-idUSKCN0PC2QF20150702

[JohnnyLib2]

1. It has to happen, so good for them.

Although two of the hold out clerks backed down yesterday or today.

[Bagsgroove]

2. Holding their breaths till they turn blue

I wonder how many of these clerks and local judges will hold on to their highly principled religious bigotry after a few of them are ordered by a Federal court to issue the licenses or go to jail in contempt?

[Betty Karlson]

3. At this point, any day they can bully someone feels like a victory to them.

It's all about playing for time; they know they'll lose. They just want to lose with the maximum amount of pain for the victorious side.

[shenmue]

4. I shall taunt you a second time!