Some Confusion Remains As Same-Sex Marriages Begin In Kansas

Although the US Supreme Court lifted the stay on US District Judge Daniel Crabtree's ruling last Wednesday which allows for same-sex marriage to begin in Kansas, only a handful of county clerks are issuing licenses.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt has stated that, in his opinion, the ruling only applies to two counties where two couples were denied marriage licenses.

However, Judge Crabtree's ruling was directed at the defendant in the case, Robert Moser, M.D., in his official capacity as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and did not name specific counties in his ruling.

From the Washington Post:

“There’s a lot of frustration and impatience,” Thomas Witt, executive director for Equality Kansas, told The Washington Post.

Witt said he knows of at least six counties issuing marriage licenses. Others are accepting applications but refusing to issue licenses, while others are refusing to accept applications altogether.

Jennifer Rapp, a spokesperson for Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, said his office has asked the Kansas Supreme Court “to provide further guidance to the district courts in light of the federal preliminary injunction.”

“We are awaiting a decision on this case,” Rapp said in an email.

“I think the Kansas attorney general has abdicated his responsibilities,” Witt said. “If anybody is causing chaos and confusion … it’s the Kansas attorney general.”