Kentucky's governor says the altered marriage licenses issued in Rowan County from the office of an embattled clerk are considered valid.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear said Monday that the licenses issued "are going to be recognized as valid in the Commonwealth."

Rowan County Deputy Clerk Brian Mason, left, asks Shannon Wampler-Collins, right and her partner Carmen Wampler-Collins to double check their marriage license at the Rowan County Judicial Center in Morehead, Ky
Rowan County Deputy Clerk Brian Mason, left, asks Shannon Wampler-Collins, right and her partner Carmen Wampler-Collins to double check their marriage license at the Rowan County Judicial Center in Morehead, Ky (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
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Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, also a Democrat, has refused to authorize licenses for same-sex couples because of her religious beliefs. She spent five days in jail for refusing to follow a federal judge's ruling ordering her to issue the licenses.

On Monday, her office altered the marriage licenses to remove her name. The licenses also say they're "pursuant to a court order." Deputy clerks, not Davis, are granting them.

Kentucky state law requires that "every license blank shall contain the identical words and figures." But Beshear noted that the federal judge overseeing Davis' case has not raised any objections to the licenses.

The Republican president of Kentucky's state Senate again called for a special session of the state legislature to change state law to exempt Davis and others who share her beliefs from jabbing to issue licenses. But Beshear again rejected that on Monday.

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