Kentucky Governor Signs Bill for Marriage License That Omits Clerk’s Name and Title
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin signed a bill into law on Wednesday creating one marriage license form which does not require the county clerk’s name and title. The bill’s final version passed the State House with a 97-0 vote followed by a 36-0 vote in the State Senate. This legislation will take effect this summer, and Bevin said his signature on the bipartisan legislation brings “statutory finality to the marriage license dilemma.”
The measure was a response to Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, represented by Liberty Counsel, who spent five days in jail last year for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on her religious beliefs. Davis would not issue the licenses because they had her name on them.
“The First Amendment guarantees Kim and every American the free exercise of religion, even when they are working for the government. County clerks should not be forced to license something that is prohibited by their religious convictions,” said Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver. “To provide a license is to provide approval and places a legal authority behind the signature. We celebrate this legislative victory. County clerks are now able to fully follow the law without being forced to compromise their religious liberty,” said Staver.
