Same-Sex Marriage License Issued in Kansas

A court office in Kansas' most populous county has issued a marriage license to a gay couple, believed to be the first in the state.

Liz Dickinson, a member of the gay-rights group Equality Kansas, said she was at the county courthouse Friday when the couple received their license. The Johnson County District Court clerk's office confirmed that a license was issued. The clerk declined to identify the couple.

That came two days after district court Chief Judge Kevin Moriarty directed clerks and other judges to begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples - even though the Kansas Constitution bans gay marriage under a provision voters approved in 2005.

Moriarty acted after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals from five other states seeking to preserve their gay-marriage bans.

This story is part of our special report: "Gay Marriage". Want to read more? Here's the full list.