By John Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader (TNS)

MOREHEAD, KY — Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis told two couples who asked for marriage licenses early Tuesday that she would not issue them, despite a federal court injunction ordering her to do so.

In a brief but tense encounter between Davis and a couple dozen marriage equality demonstrators, the clerk repeatedly said she was not issuing licenses.

“Under whose authority?” someone in the crowd asked Davis.

“God’s authority,” she responded.

Outside the Rowan County courthouse, more than 100 protesters — some supporting Davis, others opposing her — shouted at one another from across the entrance way.

“Nobody should have to go through this to get a marriage license in 2015. This is kind of ridiculous,” said David Moore, one of the men seeking a license. Moore, who is one of the local couples suing Davis, said he will call his lawyers to ask whether they will pursue contempt of court charges against the clerk.

Davis has refused to issue any marriage licenses in Rowan County since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June. U.S. District Judge David Bunning has ordered her to resume, an order she unsuccessfully appealed to the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and, over the weekend, to the Supreme Court.

(c)2015 Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Screengrab and video: Kentucky.com/YouTube