Henderson and Kaufman County Clerks began issuing same-sex marriage licenses the week of June 29.

Only a few couples have taken advantage of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision striking down bans on same-sex marriage nationwide, according to personnel in Henderson and Kaufman Counties.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked county clerks to wait until he reviewed the issue, and he said this week county clerks could refuse to issue the licenses if they felt it violated their religious beliefs.

Larger counties like Dallas, Harris, Bexar and Travis began issuing the same-sex marriage licenses immediately, but many smaller counties waited for Paxton's ruling.

A handful of county clerks chose to opt out citing religious beliefs, and protests and threats of lawsuits ensued from same-sex marriage supporters.

The Kaufman County Tea Party urged members via its website to join a rally in Granbury July 2 to support Hood County Clerk Katie Lang who opposes same-sex marrage.

"You have an opportunity to take action for religious freedom right now," the website announced. "We need your help to support a rally for religious freedom and Hood County Clerk Katie Lang."

Lang, who presumably has no relation to the lesbian singer of the similar-sounding name K.D. Lang,  originally issued a statement that she would reject same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses because it would be a violation of her religious beliefs. Then Lang reversed her decision, saying she would issue same-sex marriage licenses in about three weeks when new forms are received.

(UPDATE: Lang changed her mind again and issued the marriage license Monday July 6 after the male couple filed a federal lawsuit against her. The lawsuit will continue despite Lang issuing the license to ensure other county clerks obey the new law, the couple said.)

Same-sex marriage supporters characterized the delay as a "stall tactic," and they announced plans to protest in Granbury. Opponents of same-sex marriage responded they would stage a counter demonstration in support of Lang, which the Kaufman County Tea Party joined.

Jan Shedd, who blogs for the Kaufman County Tea Party and identifies herself as a zip code administrator and event coordinator, railed against the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down bans on same-sex marriage on her Facebook page.

Shedd is pictured below.