Kentucky's Republican nominee for governor says the state should stop issuing marriage licenses following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
Matt Bevin said in a news release the government should be out of the marriage business altogether, saying two consenting adults should not need to ask for permission to enter into a contractual relationship. In the meantime, he said state officials should take steps to protect local officials who object to same-sex marriage for religious reasons.
At least two county clerks in Kentucky have stopped issuing marriage licenses after the ruling because they say issuing a license to a same-sex couple violates their religious beliefs. The American Civil Liberties Union has sued Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis over the issue, and a hearing is scheduled for Monday.