A gay couple who was denied a marriage license at a Kentucky clerk's office despite a federal order has appealed to the county judge executive, who wished them luck but said he couldn't help. James Yates and William Smith Jr. were turned away Thursday morning. An office staffer told them Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was on vacation.
Kentucky law allows judge executives to issues marriage licenses if the clerk is absent. So, the couple marched to Rowan County Judge Executive Walter Blevins' office.
But he explained that his office isn't equipped to issue licenses. He also said that because deputy clerks are at work and empowered to issue license, he wasn't sure his signature would be valid.
Blevins has been critical of Davis' refusal to issue licenses to same-sex couples despite court rulings and orders.
He shook the couple's hands and told them: "I apologize that you had to come today and walk away empty-handed."
