Ky. Clerk Says She Will Not Stand in Way of Deputies Issuing Gay Marriage Licenses

The Kentucky county clerk who was jailed after refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses has now said that she won't prevent marriage licenses from being issued from her office.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was jailed last week for refusing to issue the licenses, but was then released after a district judge determined that deputy clerks were able to issue licenses from Davis' office in her absence.

Appearing in front of the Rowan County Court House this week, Davis released a statement saying that although she will not personally authorize the issuing of gay marriage licenses, she will not stop the deputy clerks from doing so.

If the deputy clerks "[feel] they must issue an unauthorized license to avoid being thrown into jail, I understand their tough choice and I will take no action against them," Davis said.

"I'm here before you this morning with a seemingly impossible choice that I do not wish on any of my fellow Americans," the county clerk continued, adding "My conscience or my freedom. My conscience or my ability to serve the people that I love. Obey God or a directive that forces me to disobey God, even when there are reasonable accommodations available."

Davis added Monday morning that although she is permitting deputies to issue gay marriage licenses, she "doubts" that they will carry any validation since they do not carry her signature.

Some 2016 presidential candidates, including Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, have offered their support to Davis, while others have argued that the clerk should follow the "law of the land" and issue the marriage licenses.