As the Kentucky courthouse at the center of the same-sex marriage debate opens, at least two couples were expected to request licenses from the deputy clerks serving under Kim Davis.
The first couple arrived at the clerk's office to apply for a marriage license, The Associated Press reported.
James Yates and William Smith, Jr. approached deputy clerk Brian Mason for the application.
They were successful.
At the same time, Davis sits in jail, saying she is prepared to stay there for months, after going against the Supreme Court's decision to legalize gay marriage, The Courier-Journal reported.
The deputy clerks have pledged to issue the licenses to stay out of jail, the newspaper reported.
U.S. District Judge David Bunning gave Davis another opportunity Thursday afternoon to grant the authority to her deputy clerks to issue same-sex marriage licenses, but she refused. She will remain in contempt of court and will remain jailed until she complies, according to The Courier-Journal.
Davis has refused to issue marriage licenses for two months since the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. She argues that her Christian faith should exempt her from signing the licenses.
Davis cites her being an Apostolic Christian and "God's authority" for the refusals. She claims that issuing marriage licenses to gay couples is a matter of "heaven or hell," The Washington Post reported.
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