KY Gov.-elect Matt Bevin to alter marriage licenses

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has vowed to protect a county clerk's religious objections to same-sex marriage.

Bevin spoke publicly about his plans Friday after winning the Kentucky governor's election with more than 52 percent of the vote. He will take office next month.

One lingering issue is Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk who is locked in a legal battle over issuing same-sex marriage licenses. State law requires county clerks to issue marriage licenses to all legally qualified couples. That now includes same-sex couples. But Davis believes it would be a sin for her to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple. After she refused to do so, a federal judge threw her in jail for five days in September. She now wants to be able to keep her name off of marriage licenses.

Davis has sued current Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for not accommodating her beliefs. Beshear has said he lacks the authority to remove the names of the county clerks from marriage licenses, arguing only the state legislature can do that. But Bevin disagrees and says he will do it by executive order as soon as he takes office.

The Gayly - 11/11/2015 @ 2:09 p.m. CST