Ky. Gov. Says Gay Marriage Licenses Issued by Kim Davis' Office Should Be Recognized by State

Kentucky's governor announced recently that marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples at the Rowan County office where clerk Kim Davis works should be recognized by the state.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said in a court order recently that although the marriage licenses issued from Davis' office do not meet state requirements, they should still be recognized as valid because "Kentucky law favors marriage."

"While the altered licenses issued by the Rowan County clerk's office do not fully comply with the statute, such deviation does not necessarily render the licenses ineffective or the marriages solemnized pursuant to said licenses invalid," Beshear's lawyer wrote in the court filing, adding "Kentucky law favors marriage, and the presumption of the legality of a marriage is one of the strongest known to the law." 

Earlier this year, Kim Davis, the clerk of Rowan County, was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

After being freed from jail, Davis' office did issue same-sex marriage licenses, but the licenses were void of Davis' signature and name.

Davis previously said in a statement that she could not sign the same-sex marriage licenses due to her Christian beliefs.

"To affix my name or authoritative title on a certificate that authorizes marriage that conflicts with God's definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman violates my deeply held religious convictions and conscience," Davis previously said in a statement. "For me, this would be an act of disobedience to my God."