About an hour ago, two gay men went to a deputy clerk in Rowan County to apply for a marriage certificate. Kim Davis, County Clerk, is not present, she's still jailed. Davis still refuses to give permission for the deputy clerks to issue SSM licenses. Judge Bunning had them promise that they would.
After multiple trips to the office over weeks, being disappointed each time, James Yates and Billy Smith, Jr. weren't sure what to expect. They went up to one of the deputies, presented their paperwork and several minutes later - Yates and Smith got their marriage certificate.
Their supporters erupted with whoops of joy.
As the couple walked out of the clerk’s office, someone yelled: “They got it,” setting off a chorus of competing cheers. About a couple dozen marriage equality supporters chanted, “Congrats Will and James,” and “Love has won.” On the other side of the clerk’s office, meanwhile, an equal number of Davis supporters started hurling insults and biblical passages condemning homosexuality. At one point, Davis’ supporters began chanting: “Jail Bunning.”
Yates and Smith Jr., for their part, seemed entirely overwhelmed. Surrounded by cameras and reporters, it took the couple a long time to make it past the sea of protesters, split – rather poetically – along ideological lines
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But not everyone was pleased. You can read about Mr. Davis' response and other background on the story here: http://www.msnbc.com/...
NOTE: There seems to be some doubt as to whether these licenses will be legal. They were issued withouy Davis' consent. Judge Bunning mentioned yesterday in the hearings that the couples obtaining licenses under these circumstances needed to be aware that the licenses might later be challenged.
11:01 AM PT: UPDATE: 3 LGBT couples have now gotten their licenses. Two are gay couples, the most recent, a lesbian couple. As one couple left the courthouse after receiving their licenses, protesters yelled out, "Perverts!"
Ms. Davis husband had the following to say:
But Davis also said he doesn't plan to stand in the way of any licenses Friday.
"We don't want no violence at all," he said. "And we don't hate these people. That's the farthest thing from our hearts." They don't hate them, but they're willing to call them "perverts" and say that they are "disgusting." They may feel that bullying and shaming are acts of love.
http://www.courier-journal.com/...
h/t Mokurai