No Same-Sex Marriage Licenses in Mobile, Baldwin Counties

GULF COAST (WPMI) Probate judges in Mobile and Baldwin counties are not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after Alabama's Supreme Court ordered them to stop. Baldwin County is however allowing same-sex couples to fill out applications. Mobile County is not letting anyone get marriage licenses. This back and forth battle over same-sex marriage continues to provide more questions and frustration. Couples like Jeremiah Williams and Kendyll Patrizi are caught in the crossfire. Wednesday was their last chance to get a license before Williams heads back to work in the Gulf. Their wedding ceremony is supposed to be March 28. "I don't think it's fair for the people that are coming to get married and are being turned around and being told that we can't get married because other people are waiting to know if they can get married or not. Doesn't make sense to me," Williams said. The couple said they will now head to Baldwin County where licenses are still being issued to heterosexual couples. Activists and lawyers remain divided about what Tuesday's ruling means state wide. "It's over in the state of Alabama. This gay marriage is over and the question is going to be now: all these judges that started issuing these so called same-sex marriage license, are those even valid?" said political activist Dean Young. "Judge Granade struck down the unconstitutionality of the sanctity laws, they don't exist," said attorney Christine Hernandez, who is representing Cari Searcy. Searcy and her same-sex partner are pushing for the courts to allow Searcy's partner to legally adopt her son. According to the Human Rights Counsel, there is not a single county in the state which has handed out a license to same-sex couples since Tuesday's ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court. Young said this is the victory he's been waiting for. "The Supreme Court of Alabama has shocked the nation and even the world is watching what they've done because they've told the Federal Government, you all have gone too far," Young said. Despite Young's confidence, many probate judges including Mobile's Don Davis still remain in talks with their legal counsel, unsure of how to proceed.