James Yates and William Smith Jr. were the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license from a Kentucky county clerk’s office Friday, a day after the clerk who runs the office was jailed, NBC News reported.
Rowan County deputy clerk Brian Mason shook the couple's hands after granting the license. Mason has taken over from county clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed Thursday for refusing to grant same-sex marriage licenses.
As the pair walked out of the courthouse, they were greeted with cheers from a crowd on the street. Yates told reporters he was "relieved and happy,” according to NBC News.
Meanwhile, the clerk's husband, Joe Davis, told reporters Friday that his wife will not resign and would stay in jail for as long as it takes, The Associated Press reported.
Editor's Note: An earlier headline misrepresented that the couple had wed when they had instead received their marriage license.
