They have been together for the past 17 years and have lived in Rowan County for the past 10 years. They attempted to get a marriage license twice, first in July and for a second time in August. They recorded both their attempts and posted them to social media.

The footage shows the couple presenting the clerk’s office with a letter from Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and a copy of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in June.

“This is how gay people are treated in this country, this is what it’s like, this is their experience, this is how it feels,” Ermold said in an emotional statement after being denied for the second time.

Kim Davis, the Rowan County Clerk, believes it is within her First Amendment rights to deny the same-sex licenses based on her religious beliefs. She has vowed to continue to deny them, despite being ordered to grant licenses by Beshear and a federal court judge.