Gov. Steve Beshear says his appeal of a judge's order to recognize same-sex marriages is meant to clarify the law. Beshear acknowledges that marriage equality supporters are disappointed with his decision to mount an appeal, even though Attorney General Jack Conway has opted not to.
Beshear says the appeal is needed to get the matter settled as quickly as possible and without Conway on the case, Beshear has sent out a request for proposals for attorneys to handle the state’s appeal.
While he refuses to state his personal opinion on gay marriage, Beshear contends that an appeal is the quickest way to get the matter settled, and that he and Conway simply reached different conclusions.
“We had a lot of conversations about this issue, and as I said, he wrestled with it, and I wrestled with it,” said Beshear. “We ended up coming to different conclusions. And I respect the decision he made, and I think he respects mine.”
But Conway disagrees with Beshear’s assessment, and says federal judges are ruling in favor of same-sex marriage across the country.
“I just didn’t really want to spend the resources of this office appealing something that ultimately I didn’t think we were gonna win. And does Kentucky need a voice at the table? There will be voices at the table to decide this. But it’s an issue of how Kentucky wants to put its foot forward,” said Conway.
Beshear says he will have a list of candidates to appeal the case by the end of the week.
