Demonstrators at the Milwaukee County Courthouse demanded that it follow the lead of a county clerk in Kentucky, in denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Milwaukee's clerk says his office will continue business as usual, and as the law orders.
Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis went to jail rather than follow court decisions, saying she must follow her religious beliefs. In Milwaukee on Wednesday, 12 men and women from the Christian Civil Liberties Union picketed outside the county courthouse, holding signs thanking Davis for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and pleading with Milwaukee clerks to do the same.
Protestor Bob Brown praises Davis.
"This is the beginning of a movement, a strong movement. It's almost like some people run around with signs saying "Black Lives Matter." We're saying, Christians matter, and I don't think these court people believe it," Brown says.
A few feet away from the protesters, a married gay couple watched disapprovingly. Tom Maciejewski and Jose Nunez say they married in May, after 20 years together.
"Rights are rights. Religion is religion. Get them separate," Maciejewski says.
A day doesn't go by in Milwaukee without a same-sex couple applying for a marriage license, according to Milwaukee County Clerk Joe Czarnezki. His office has followed the law regarding the constitutionality of same-sex marriage and even opened for additional hours when the legal window opened in Wisconsin last year.
"There was an initial spike after the court ruling in 2014. That has leveled off now, but there is a steady influx of same-sex couples (coming here) for marriage licenses," Czarnezki says.
As for his thoughts on the Kim Davis controversy?
"All county clerks take an oath to uphold both the state and U.S. Constitution. If you're not comfortable doing that, no one says you have to stay in this job," Czarnezki says.
The local protestors against same-sex marriage say they will continue their fight and perhaps take it to the clerk's front yard.