The State of Kentucky in the United States is in the offensive right now to protect the marriage from those who wish to soil its sanctity.
The state Senate approved a bill last 18 February that creates different marriage license forms for gay and straight couples, with one Republican senator saying any form that does not include the words "bride" and "groom: is disrespectful to traditional families.
The primary purpose of the legislation was to remove the names of county clerks from marriage licenses, a response to the controversy surrounding Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
But the Republican controlled Senate amended the bill as a way to show their support for traditional marriage. Former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear changed the marriage license form last summer once same-sex marriages became legal, removing "bride" and "groom" and replacing it with "first party" and "second party" since they like to party anyway.
"Quite frankly, it’s almost disrespectful to the traditional family," said Republican state Sen. John Schickel of Union. "That's why, wisely, we decided to have two forms. That has nothing to do with bigotry, nothing to do with discrimination. It has to do with the vast majority of Kentuckians that respect traditional marriage."
Democratic Sen. Morgan McGarvey of Louisville tried to amend the bill to create one form, where a person would have the option to check "bride," "groom" or "spouse" beside their name. He said having one form would be cheaper and more efficient, and it would treat everyone fairly. It failed.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit against Davis, said in a news release the Senate was "setting a dangerous slippery slope precedent by catering to one specific religious belief and privileging that over others."
Republican Sen. Stephen West, the sponsor of the bill and whose district includes Rowan County, said gay couples could choose to use the "bride" and "groom" form if they wished.
The state Senate approved a bill last 18 February that creates different marriage license forms for gay and straight couples, with one Republican senator saying any form that does not include the words "bride" and "groom: is disrespectful to traditional families.
The primary purpose of the legislation was to remove the names of county clerks from marriage licenses, a response to the controversy surrounding Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
But the Republican controlled Senate amended the bill as a way to show their support for traditional marriage. Former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear changed the marriage license form last summer once same-sex marriages became legal, removing "bride" and "groom" and replacing it with "first party" and "second party" since they like to party anyway.
"Quite frankly, it’s almost disrespectful to the traditional family," said Republican state Sen. John Schickel of Union. "That's why, wisely, we decided to have two forms. That has nothing to do with bigotry, nothing to do with discrimination. It has to do with the vast majority of Kentuckians that respect traditional marriage."
Democratic Sen. Morgan McGarvey of Louisville tried to amend the bill to create one form, where a person would have the option to check "bride," "groom" or "spouse" beside their name. He said having one form would be cheaper and more efficient, and it would treat everyone fairly. It failed.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit against Davis, said in a news release the Senate was "setting a dangerous slippery slope precedent by catering to one specific religious belief and privileging that over others."
Republican Sen. Stephen West, the sponsor of the bill and whose district includes Rowan County, said gay couples could choose to use the "bride" and "groom" form if they wished.