In a historic move, the Supreme Court ruled on June 26 that same-sex couples across the United States have the right to marry.
But in the two months since, a clerk in Kentucky has stubbornly refused to provide marriage licenses to gay couples, ignoring the Supreme Court, the governor, and now a judge with the United States District Court for Eastern Kentucky.
The clerk, Kim Davis, who hasn't issued marriage licenses to straight couples either since the Supreme Court decision, claims that allowing gay couples to marry violates her religious beliefs.
Kentucky clerk who defied judge's gay marriage order asks for more time http://t.co/uvbVcLvDMO pic.twitter.com/qiS16JLwgx— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) August 14, 2015
The American Civil Liberties Union had brought a case against the clerk's office on behalf of two same-sex and two heterosexual couples. Though it won the case on Wednesday, Davis's lawyers have appealed, according to
The case sets the bar for whether individuals will be legally allowed to defy the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage, claiming the ruling infringes on their religious freedom. Some want Davis fired, or have called for her resignation.
Kentucky Clerk Who Defied Judge's Gay Marriage Order Asks For Delay @TPM http://t.co/nwSewIr6eW ARREST THIS WOMEN SHE BROKE THE LAW!— Andrea (@AGraceMorgan63) August 14, 2015
Fire her already!!! Kentucky Clerk Who Defied Judge's Gay Marriage Order Asks For Delay http://t.co/cUCUGvgvvf via @TPM— Mr. Scooter 3120 (@chp3120) August 14, 2015
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis continues to make us (who care about how KY looks to the rest of the world) look bad http://t.co/KpFQzRC9Ra— Ellis Starr (@Ubercapper) August 13, 2015
Davis's lawyers have told same-sex couples in the county that they can simply get a marriage license in a neighboring jurisdiction. David Moore, who had tried to get a license to wed his partner at Davis's office on Thursday, called that suggestion akin to saying "we don't want your kind" here, according to the Times.
More individual cases testing the line between discrimination and so-called religious liberty are popping up around the country. On Thursday in Colorado, an appeals court ruled against a bakery that had refused to bake a cake for a same-sex couple who planned to wed. The ruling stated that refusing the couple was discrimination based on sexual-orientation, not an expression of religious freedom.
Davis has sued the governor of Kentucky for allegedly impeding her religious liberties. She is one of two county clerks in Kentucky--out of the state's 120--who have refused to adhere to the governor's demand.