The battle over gay marriage in Florida is moving forward.
A federal judge on Wednesday cleared the way for gay couples to get marriage licenses on Tuesday in every county in Florida [Read Judge Hinkle's order]
But the battle over gay marriage has had an unexpected impact on anyone wanting to get married in a courthouse ceremony in Duval, Clay or Baker counties.
Friday was the last day for anyone to get married at the Duval County Courthouse.
Duval County Clerk of Court Ronnie Fussell and the people who perform the wedding ceremonies said they weren't comfortable performing gay marriage ceremonies, so instead, Fussell said ceremonies will no longer be conducted at the courthouse at all.
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One couple taking advantage of the last day for courthouse weddings was childhood friends Zepora Merritt and Kelvin Matthews -- although they didn't know how close they cut it.
"I'm blessed and I'm thankful to be able to do this today," Merritt said.
They had already applied for their marriage license and had no idea Friday was the last day to have their ceremony at the courthouse.
High school sweethearts Lillian Smythe and Matthew Meyers were relieved to find they were still going to be able to save money by only having to pay the $30 fee to have their ceremony at the courthouse Friday.
"When we heard about the thing about the gay marriages, we thought, 'Uh oh, I hope they can do it today," Smythe said. "So we called at 8 a.m., that's when the courthouse opens."
Both couples personally invited News4Jax into the wedding arbor for their ceremonies but courthouse officials refused to allow reporters and cameras in Friday, even though media have been allowed in the chapel before to cover weddings.
Fussell said marriage licenses will still be issued, but he has said he and the other people who officiate the ceremonies are not comfortable with same-sex marriage.
In order not to discriminate, no one will get married at the courthouse.
Wayne Harper was planning to get married Friday and had no idea it was the last day.
"It's crazy. I didn't even know they were not going to allow it anymore," Harper said.
But as he waited for his bride to arrive, Harper said he completely understood why the clerk decided what he did.
"I don't blame them," Harper said. "I mean, if I felt uncomfortable doing something, then I wouldn't do it either."
Others supporting the clerk's decision included a group of more than 60 pastors who said they will be offering a service to marry male and female couples from Duval, Clay and Baker counties for free to show their support for closing the courthouse chapel. Couples will be able to sign up for the service online at www.justgetmarried.org.
Kenneth Adkins is the spokesperson for those pastors.
"The Bible represents our morals and values and our issues," Adkins said. "So we're going to represent the Bible. We're going to take up the slack and marry couples of men and women."
But Betsy White, one of the lawyers at the center of the legal battle over same-sex marriage, had a different take. She called the decision to stop all weddings at the Duval County Courthouse immature and vindictive, and she and her partners are working hard to do something about it.
"He is there at the will of the people and he is responsible to the taxpayers," White said. "We will be pursuing all legal remedies that we can."
White represents the same-sex couples who are at the heart of the legal challenge against the ban on gay marriage in Florida.
It is because of their work that gay couples will be able to get marriage licenses next Tuesday.
White said she's troubled by the clerk's decision to stop performing the ceremonies altogether.
"I find his decision immature," White said. "It is almost like a young child who is losing at the game of marbles so he decides that he's gonna pick up his marbles and go home. And that's OK when you're a child, it's not okay when you're a public official."
Fussell did not comment Friday but in an written statement Thursday night he said the law does not require that his office perform ceremonies, just issue licenses.
Baker and Clay counties are also discontinuing courthouse wedding ceremonies.