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Clerk Sues Kentucky Governor Over Gay Marriage Directive
By: Associated Press
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ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) – The Kentucky clerk sued for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples has filed a lawsuit against the governor, claiming he violated her religious freedom by telling all clerks that they must either issue licenses or resign.
On June 26, the day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled gay marriage bans unconstitutional, Gov. Steve Beshear directed the state’s 120 county clerks to comply and begin issuing licenses to all couples.
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis filed the lawsuit against Beshear Tuesday, alleging that the directive violated her “sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Davis refused to issue licenses, and four couples sued her last month. The lawsuit filed by the conservative firm Liberty Counsel on her behalf says that the governor should be liable for the couples’ claims against Davis and accommodate her faith.