The drama continued in Kentucky as Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was held in contempt of court by a U.S. federal judge on Sept. 3 and sent to jail.
On Aug. 31, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to not allow Davis to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of her religious beliefs.
Davis had argued that her Christian faith prevented her from recognizing such marriagesand continued to deny licenses to all couples despite the high court's decision.
"The court doesn't do this lightly," District Court Judge David Bunning said in ordering that she be taken into custody, Reuters reported.
Bunning added that his earlier injunction ordering Davis to issue marriage licenses applied to everyone and not just the four couples whose suit in July had accused Davis of not doing her job.
"Government employees swear an oath to uphold the Constitution, which the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled protects the fundamental right of all Americans to marry the person they love," said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin in a statment. "Since then, all across the nation, thousands of LGBT couples have rejoiced in marriage without incident. As a government employee, Kim Davis certainly has a right to her personal views, but she is not above the law or the principles enshrined in our Constitution."
In a related development, William Smith and James Yateson their sixth attemptobtained a marriage license in Rowan County from Deputy Clerk Brian Mason around 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 4, The Courirer-Journal reported. As they left the courthouse, supporters chanted "love has won."
Davis' supporters said a rally was being planned on Sept. 5 outside the Carter County jail, where she is being held.
The Reuters item is at www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/03/us-usa-gaymarriage-kentucky-idUSKCN0R13S220150903. The Courier-Journal piece is at www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/09/04/kim-davis-rowan-county-clerks-marriage-license-friday/71665470/ .
Earlier Windy City Times item including statements from HRC and ACLU is at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Kentucky-clerk-refusing-licenses-ordered-jailed/52697.html .