Vague reasons for San Saba not issuing licenses to same sex couples Copyright by KXAN - All rights reserved Copyright by KXAN - All rights reserved San Saba County Courthouse. Vague reasons for San Saba not issuing licenses to same sex couples San Saba County Courthouse. prev next

SAN SABA, Texas (KXAN) -- The Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage has caught some counties off-guard and ill-prepared to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Many told KXAN they are either waiting on legal reviews or the proper documents and paperwork before granting licenses to same-sex couples.

But San Saba County offered changing reasons on Monday as to why they were not ready to do so.

While KXAN was contacting counties in the viewing area to ask if they were issuing marriage licenses, the county of 6,000 people told us they would not do so based on Attorney General Ken Paxton's advisement. After seeing that news, viewer Kay Arnold called the county to inquire further.

"The lady that answered the phone in San Saba told me, flat out, they were not issuing licenses based on their religious beliefs," said Arnold, a viewer who told KXAN she is not associated with an advocacy group. When she asked if the same religious belief was held by everyone in the county clerk's office, Arnold said the woman informed her it was.

"She seemed annoyed at me asking the questions."

KXAN was met with a similar annoyance when we went to the courthouse to ask about the county clerk's position on the issue. Despite what they told KXAN earlier, this time KXAN was told the county did not have the proper forms and documentation for marriage licenses for same-sex couples and were unable to find them.

"I do not have the proper documentation, I do not have the proper forms, I do not have anything," said a woman in the office.

When asked if religious affiliation played any part in the reason why marriage licenses were not available to same-sex couples, the woman said the clerk's office would not offer any opinions to KXAN. However, she did say the county would attempt to get the proper forms.

"I am trying to if these people will leave us alone and quit bugging us," she said before threatening to contact the county sheriff if KXAN continued to ask questions.