Area counties issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples

Counties across Southeast Missouri now are issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

A June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, but many counties in Missouri did not begin issuing licenses immediately.

Some cited religious objections or the decision to wait out the 25 days until the ruling officially took effect. Others claimed they were unable to begin immediately because of technical issues, such as updated paperwork and software changes. New certificates had to be printed because the old ones included specific reference to a man and a woman, consistent with Missouri law until the ruling.

That was an issue for several local counties, including Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau County Recorder of Deeds Drew Blattner said though the office began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples Monday, none has come forward as of Tuesday afternoon. Those who come in will receive the old application that says "bride" and "groom," because that's all the county has available at the moment.

Blattner said the original plan for Cape Girardeau County was to wait until July 20 to begin issuing licenses because that's when the Supreme Court ruling took effect. But after a few legal events took place, including the Missouri attorney general announcing after the Supreme Court's decision the dismissal of appeals filed by the state of Missouri in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and in the Missouri Supreme Court, he said he was advised to begin issuing the licenses.

Gov. Jay Nixon signed an executive order Tuesday directing all departments, agencies, boards and commissions in the executive branch to "take all necessary measures" to comply with the ruling. The order also makes clear the obligation of local governments to comply, Nixon said in a news release, ensuring the ruling is "implemented uniformly throughout state government."

"This landmark ruling was a historic step forward for our nation, and it has some very real benefits for families here in Missouri," he continued.

Blattner said the county eventually will receive the right forms, and its software company is working on an update.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks for his office, he said, as they worked with legal council to determine how to proceed. Waiting the 25 days initially seemed the best way to avoid a lawsuit, they thought, until marriage-equality groups began threatening to bring lawsuits of their own against counties not issuing the licenses to same-sex couples.

"It's difficult finding the information out there," Blattner said. "There's no system in place. It's not like we were contacted by the attorney general or anything."

Besides the effort with research and working with legal council, he said the office was fielded several phone calls a day. Blattner said his office received hundreds of calls in the last week, and "maybe three" were from Cape Girardeau County residents inquiring about same-sex marriage licenses.

PROMO is a St. Louis-based group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. It is among the groups considering lawsuits for counties not complying with the ruling, working with the American Civil Liberties Union, according to The Associated Press.

The group also has a map of counties issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Nearly all of them are lit in the rainbow pattern, indicating compliance, including counties in Southeast Missouri and the Bootheel.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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