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Marriage Equality

WATCH: Couple Married Under Kim Davis's Watch Heckled by Bigot

WATCH: Couple Married Under Kim Davis's Watch Heckled by Bigot

Shannon and Carmen Wampler-Collins

Shannon and Carmen Wampler-Collins were allowed to get married Monday, but officials also allowed them to be taunted while they got their license.

Nbroverman

Kentucky clerk Kim Davis returned to work Monday, and things were quite manic at her office in Rowan County.

Two women obtained a license today, the first same-sex couple in Rowan County to do so when Davis wasn't in jail. Shannon and Carmen Wampler-Collins spoke to the press before entering the clerk's office, saying they wanted to be an example to gay youth in Kentucky as well as remind Americans "there are wonderful, progressive people here" in the state.

Unfortunately, the couple didn't receive hospitable treatment by all when they received their license. Throughout the process, they were heckled by a man shouting antigay rhetoric, according to a video featured on JoeMyGod.

"It's your sin that brought you here," the man can be heard shouting. "Your sin is going to be your demise."

Davis did not intervene to stop the marriage license from being issued or the heckler from harassing the couple. Jailed for five days for refusing multiple court orders requiring her to provide marriage licenses to all couples, Davis showed up at work today and read a statement to the press. Davis said she would allow the clerks under her to issue licenses but would not personally authorize them. The licenses now read "pursuant to federal court order" and do not contain her name. Davis insinuated that she did not know whether the licenses would pass legal muster.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning "indicated last week that he was willing to accept altered marriage license even though he was not certain of their validity," Davis said. "I too have great doubts whether the license issued under these conditions are even valid."

Watch the couple's interview with CNN and their experience at the clerk's office below.

Nbroverman
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Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.