Traditional marriage is under assault in Kentucky. Read the latest from the Western Recorder:
LOUISVILLE—In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling that struck down a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, more lawsuits have been filed challenging Kentucky’s laws against same-sex marriages, prompting a growing concern among proponents of traditional family values.
A Shelby County couple filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Lexington Aug. 16, according to the Sentinel-News. The couple joins three other same-sex couples—two from Louisville and one from Bardstown—who filed the same suit in Louisville.
Kim Franklin and Tammy Boyd of Cropper brought the suit at the urging of Attorney Shannon Fauver of Louisville, the Sentinel-News reported.
The long-time residents of Shelby County have been in a committed relationship for six years and were married in Connecticut in 2010. Their lawsuit seeks to force Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages performed in
other states.
In late July, the Courier-Journal reported that Gregory Bourke and Michael Deleon, who were married in Canada in 2004, had filed a lawsuit after recognizing legal limitations pertaining to adoption of children.
The other Louisville couples include Jimmy Lee Meade and Luke Barlowe, and Randell Johnson and Paul Champion, according to news sources.
As lawsuit pressure mounts on state lawmakers, Kentucky Baptist leaders expressed a growing concern for maintaining traditional family values and scriptural mores.
“We continue to pray for those who bring suits against the state we are living in,” said Mike Stacey, chairman of the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Committee on Public Affairs.
“The Commonwealth of Kentucky has made it’s declaration as to where it stands regarding same-sex marriage recognition,” Stacey noted.
By a 3-1 margin, Kentucky voters affirmed the Marriage Protection Amendment in November 2004, specifying that a legal status identical to or similar to marriage for unmarried individuals will not be recognized in the commonwealth.
“Besides that reality, is the reality that God has established that marriage is between one man and one woman,” added Stacey, pastor of Buena Vista Baptist Church in Somerset. “You can call it what you want, but if it’s not this design, it’s not a marriage.”
Reacting to a statement made by the Shelby County couple that they filed a suit because they treasure old-fashioned values, Stacey said, “As a minister, I stand firm upon the biblical definition of marriage. If you say you have ‘old-fashioned values,’ then you should respect the ones the majority of this state has as well.”
Paul Chitwood, executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, reiterated the need for pastors and churches to teach clearly what the Bible says regarding homosexuality, along with other forms of sexual sin. “We must also communicate the love of Christ in word and deed,” he said.
Chitwood also encouraged Kentucky Baptists to contact state legislators.
“By their sheer numbers, Kentucky Baptists have the ability to exert significant influence upon state government for the good of families in the commonwealth,” the executive director said. “Most of our legislators welcome the opportunity to hear from us.”
Kentucky is one of 35 states that prohibit same-sex marriages, while 13 states and Washington, D.C. allow same-sex marriages. Four allow same sex couples to enter civil unions. (Western Recorder)
by Todd Deaton
