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Tennessee: All three clerks in Decatur County resign over opposition to same-sex marriage

Tennessee: All three clerks in Decatur County resign over opposition to same-sex marriage
Decatur County Courthouse in Decaturville, Tenn.
Decatur County Courthouse in Decaturville, Tenn. WKRN-TV

JACKSON, Tenn. — Officials in Decatur County, Tenn., say all three employees in the clerk’s office have resigned because of their opposition to the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned bans on same-sex marriage.

County Commissioner David Boroughs told The Jackson Sun that county clerk Gwen Pope and employees Sharon Bell and Mickey Butler have resigned.

Pope said the decision to step down wasn’t made to make news, reports WBIR-TV.

“It’s kind of sort of like you don’t want to draw attention to yourself for any reason,” Pope said. “That’s not why we’re doing this. Not doing it in any way to draw attention to us. It’s for the glory of God. He’s going to get all the glory.”

All three will be looking for new jobs. There was no backup plan, they said.

County Mayor Mike Creasy says the resignations will not be effective until July 14.

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Clerks are legally allowed to refuse to perform the marriages, but must issue the licenses.

Creasy said the county has not received any requests for same-sex marriage licenses as of Thursday.

According to county staffers across the state and gay marriage advocates, all of Tennessee’s county clerks are ready to or are already issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples since the Supreme Court’s ruling last Friday.

Associated Press contributed to this report.
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