County clerk forced to issue same-sex marriage licenses or face persecution

A Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis, was given a court order requiring her to issue gay marriage licenses even though she claims it goes against her religious beliefs. Davis stopped issuing any licenses a month after the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriages, defying orders from the governor. Although Davis filed an appeal, it was denied on Aug 26.

The judge wrote “Her religious convictions cannot excuse her from performing the duties that she took an oath to perform as Rowan County clerk.” Davis argues that same-sex couples could travel to other counties to get licenses and that the Supreme Court cases “do not create a fundamental right to receive a marriage license from a particular person.”