A Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage has been sent to jail by a federal judge.
The Associated Press reported that U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis to jail Thursday until she obeys his order to issue licenses to gay couples.
Davis, who has refused to issue marriage licenses to any couples since the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide more than two months ago, was called to appear before federal court Thursday. She has repeatedly defied court orders to issue the licenses, and four couples have sued her.
Hundreds of protesters surrounded the courthouse in Ashland, Kentucky ahead of the hearing.
The Christian county clerk insists that she should be exempt from issuing the licenses because of her religious beliefs. Upon receiving her jail sentence Thursday, Davis told Bunning, "thank you."
