William Smith and James Yates hug after obtaining marriage license (Twitter)
A gay couple obtained a marriage license Friday morning in Rowan County, where a county clerk's refusal to follow the law has drawn international attention.
The Rowan County courthouse opened its doors Friday at 8 a.m., one day after County Clerk Kim Davis was jailed for contempt.
Five of her six deputies agreed to follow court orders to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and one of those deputies sat behind a sign that indicated he was the official "marriage license deputy."
"Anybody here to get a license, a marriage license?" a sheriff's deputy asked a throng of reporters gathered in the office.
William Smith and James Yates, who were turned away earlier this week -- setting up the contempt of court violation that eventually landed Davis in jail -- stepped up to the deputy clerk who had apologetically denied them a marriage license.
This time, they were issued a license that would allow them to be legally married in the state of Kentucky.
The gay couple entered the courthouse holding hands, as they walked past anti-LGBT protesters hurling insults and shouting Bible verses.
But supporters of marriage equality took up a chant, "love has won," to drown out their vindictive rebukes.
Watch video, uploaded to YouTube by Kentucky.com, below:
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