CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Now that same-sex couples can obtain a marriage license and tie the knot here in West Virginia, changes are coming.
State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced he could no longer defend the state’s Defense of Marriage Act Thursday and stressed it was up to county clerks to comply.
“The clerk’s position here in not discretionary. The clerk is mandated to follow state law. Given that the forms that are going to be coming out are changing, the clerk doesn’t any latitude in this instance,” Morrisey explained Friday on MetroNews Talkline.
Patti Hamilton, the executive director of the West Virginia Association of Counties, said her office started getting phone calls almost immediately after Morrisey’s announcement. ”
“There was a little bit of confusion about the immediacy or not of the decision. So we have been sticking to the words “effective immediately,” explained Hamilton.
New wording on the marriage licenses has already been addressed.
“The state’s registrar’s office was very quick to get revised application forms out. So every county clerk had that e-mailed and faxed to them,” said Hamilton.
Instead of “bridge and groom,” the new licenses say “applicant and applicant.”
Thursday evening, the Kanawha County Commission voted to change their employee policy. They will now extend insurance coverage to the same-sex spouse of county employees. Hamilton said that’s just one of many issues counties will have to consider.
“I’m sure as these questions arrive counties, like any employer, will deal with them, make these decisions.”
But Hamilton stressed county clerks and their staffs are prepared.
“They are ready to comply with the ruling as it stands.”