Kim Davis claims victory in Kentucky law on same-sex marriage licenses

Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who refused to license gay marriages and got jailed because of it, claimed victory after Kentucky filed a new law Tuesday, June 21.

According to Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit, litigation organization specializing in religious freedom, the motion unanimously approved by the state legislature and Gov. Matt Bevin was filed at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and due to take effect July 14.

Senate Bill 216 (SB 216) is the new Kentucky law that allows for the exclusion of a County Clerk's name or any personal identification and authorization to appear in a marriage license.

Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel Mat Staver noted that SB 216 provides for what Davis requested for early on.

"The previous governor could have made the same accommodation but refused to do so," said Staver. "Instead, he was willing to violate deeply-held religious convictions about marriage in order to press his ideological agenda."

Staver added that they were pleased with the outcome since it has only made Davis' case moot.

Davis, not surprisingly, was also equally pleased. She expressed her gratitude to the legislators, the governor, the Liberty Counsel, and "most of all to Jesus Christ" her redeemer and "solid rock."

"I am pleased that I can continue to serve my community as the Rowan County Clerk without having to sacrifice my religious convictions and conscience," said Davis.

Davis spent five days in jail last year after four couples including same-sex couples sued her for her refusal to issue them marriage licenses. She was then ordered by the court not to interfere with the deputy clerks who issued marriage licenses.

Conservative group The Family Research Council honored Davis with the "Cost of Discipleship Award" in September for her courage to stand firm in her orthodox religious views.

"What militant secularists are almost certainly afraid of is what is coming to pass: courage is breeding courage," FRC President Tony Perkins said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "When other people might have cowered in fear, Kim took a stand. And today, millions of Americans stand with her and for the religious freedom upon which our nation was founded."

According to The Huffington Post, the gay couples who sued Davis are just as willing to drop the case as they celebrate the fact that the new law guarantees all loving couples, no matter the sex, may now equally obtain marriage licenses.