The Kentucky clerk who refuses to issue
marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples has filed a lawsuit
against Governor Steve Beshear.
After the Supreme Court struck down gay
marriage bans in all 50 states, Beshear, a Democrat opposed to
marriage equality, ordered all of Kentucky's county clerks to comply
with the high court's ruling. Kentucky was among the four states
involved in the case.
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis claims
that Beshear's directive violates her “sincerely held religious
beliefs.”
Rather than serve gay couples, Davis
stopped issuing marriage licenses to all couples, which resulted in
a lawsuit filed by four couples, half of whom are gay, against Davis.
In her lawsuit, Davis says Beshear
should be liable for the couples' claims against Davis and that the
government should accommodate her faith.
Davis is represented by the Christian
conservative Liberty Counsel, which is headed by Mat Staver.
(Related: Mat
Staver wants “sanctuary cities” where gay marriage isn't
recognized.)