Anti gay marriage county clerk loses… again

The US Supreme Court has told Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis that she cannot refuse to serve gay and lesbian couples who want to get married.

Davis had asked the Supreme Court to allow her to continue to discriminate against same-sex couples while her case is on appeal.

On Monday, the court denied the homophobic public servant’s emergency request. It remains unclear if Davis will now finally do her job or face contempt of court.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sued Davis on behalf of four couples she turned away, welcomed the decision.

“Today the US Supreme Court resoundingly affirmed that government officials must carry out the duties of public office,” said Steven R. Shapiro, Legal Director of the ACLU.

“By refusing to simply issue a form, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has prevented our clients, four loving couples, from obtaining marriage licenses in the county where they live and pay taxes. Davis has no basis for any further delay in denying couples the freedom to marry.”

JoDee Winterhof, from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), called on Davis to either “follow the law or resign her public position.”

“A public official’s personal religious opinion does not give her the privilege to trample over the rights of others,” she said.

Citing her religious beliefs, Davis – who has been married four times – stopped issuing all marriage licenses in her county in the state of Kentucky rather than be forced to recognise same-sex marriages.

She repeatedly refused to issue marriage licenses despite court orders that ruled that her personal views have no bearing on her obligation as a state official to follow the law.