Saline County to issue same-sex marriage licenses

Clerks in Saline County say they will issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if any show up at the county courthouse in Benton.

Chief Deputy Clerk Lisa Montgomery said Monday that her office would issue marriage licenses for gay couples, but that by midday no one had arrived to receive one. She added that the office had received several telephone calls from people with questions.

In 2004, Arkansas voters passed a ban on gay marriages in a constitutional amendment. About 76 percent of Saline County residents voted then in favor of the gay marriage ban. Statewide, the measure passed with 75 percent of the vote.

A judge overturned the ban last week, saying it was unfair to same-sex couples.

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