Kentucky clerk won't approve, or block, marriage licenses for gay couples

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, 49, who has said her beliefs as an Apostolic Christian prevent her from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, said licenses would state that they are being issued under a U.S. District Court order.

Davis, who returned to work Monday, told a news conference any marriage licenses issued would not carry her name, title or her personal authorization. She added she would take no action against deputy clerks who issue licenses, although she said she does not believe they have the authority to do so.

"I don’t want to have this conflict. I don’t want to be in the spotlight, and I certainly don’t want to be a whipping post," Davis said. "I am no hero. I am just a person who has been transformed by the grace of God and who wants to work, be with my family."

Soon after her comments, a same-sex couple received a marriage license in Rowan County, the first to be issued since Davis returned to work. As the lesbian couple squeezed through the mass of reporters, Davis' supporters heckled them from the back of the room.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered Davis jailed for contempt on Sept. 3 for refusing to comply with his order to issue licenses in line with the Supreme Court ruling in June. He ordered her released five days later when the licenses were being issued by deputy clerks.

In his release order, Bunning warned Davis there would be consequences if she interfered with the issuance of marriage licenses, directly or indirectly, when she returned to work.

Davis left the jail last Tuesday to a roaring crowd of supporters and some detractors. Her supporters continued protests last week after her release, demanding the firing of deputy clerks who provide marriage licenses without her permission.

On Friday, Davis asked the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to allow her to continue banning marriage licenses for her entire office until a lawsuit against her is decided. Her attorneys argued that Bunning's initial order had only covered couples who were suing her.

Al Jazeera and Reuters