Joe.My.God. LGBT News
We knew this was coming. Via the Louisville Courier-Journal:
In one of his first major acts in office, Gov. Matt Bevin issued a series of executive orders Tuesday to remove the names of county clerks from marriage licenses in Kentucky and halt efforts by former Gov. Steve Beshear to restore voting rights to certain felons who have completed their sentences. Bevin said in a statement that he was upholding commitments he made during his campaign for governor.
“While I have been a vocal supporter of the restoration of rights, for example, it is an issue that must be addressed through the legislature and by the will of the people,” he said. “As we move into the new year and upcoming session, I look forward to working with legislators and stakeholders to build consensus and drive policy that makes a meaningful impact on the lives of all Kentuckians”
From what will sure become known as the Kim Davis order:
“To ensure that the sincerely held religious beliefs of all Kentuckians are honored, Executive Order 2015-048 directs the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives to issue a revised marriage license form to the offices of all Kentucky County Clerks. The name of the County Clerk is no longer required to appear on the form.”
The ACLU reacts via press release:
Governor Bevin’s executive action has added to the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over marriage licensing in Kentucky. The requirement that the county clerk’s name appear on marriage licenses is prescribed by Kentucky law and is not subject to unilateral change by the governor — conceded by the previous administration in court filings.
Today, however, a new administration claims to have that authority. The ACLU continues to work with loving couples who hold marriage licenses of questionable validity and for those who are waiting to legalize their unions until this is resolved.
And the ACLU will continue to challenge government officials who disregard the law in favor of promoting their own personal beliefs to the detriment of the rights of others. Government officials, from the highest to the lowest, have a duty and responsibility to impartially administer the laws that exist, not the laws as they wish them to be.