In Northeast Texas, county government offices have been reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage throughout the country in the same way that most of Texas is reacting: Slowly, but in compliance with federal law.
Shortly after the court’s announcement on the morning of June 26, Scott Bell and Valentin Fleitas were the first same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license at the Lamar County courthouse in Paris. Three marriage licenses were issued by Lamar County by the end of the day.
By the morning of June 30, the Dallas Morning News reported that Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman and Wood counties were ready to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Rockwall County is also ready to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the Rockwall Herald-Banner reported.
Delta, Fannin, Rains and Van Zandt counties do not currently issue marriage licenses to same-sex-couples, the Dallas Morning News said. Fannin and van Zandt counties are waiting on a software update, while Delta and Rains are waiting on “official advice or forms,” the report said.
Three Texas county clerks have announced their intent to refuse to comply with federal law based on personal religious objections. Those clerks are in Hood, Kimbell and Lipscomb counties.
