Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will attend this year’s Fancy Farm political picnic.
Though he will leave office at the end of the year, Beshear says he’ll be there to support the entire Democratic ticket.
“It’s a next generational kind of ticket and it’s a ticket that has great leadership in it and will really continue to build on the good things that we got going,” Beshear said.
Fancy Farm will be headlined this year by the major party nominees for governor.
Democrat Jack Conway and Republican Matt Bevin will square off in the annual event that draws thousands of spectators to far western Kentucky. Fancy Farm is this Saturday.
Several bills on gay marriage have been pre-filed for Kentucky’s 2016 legislative session. The measures seek to strengthen religious freedom protections for clergy who refuse to marry same-sex couples. House Speaker Greg Stumbo is also proposing a bill that would allow the state to grant marriage licenses online. Governor Steve Beshear says if lawmakers change how marriage licenses are issued, some may still have to lay aside their convictions to follow the law.
“Even if you have the state doing it there’s going to be somebody at the state that has to sign something. So whoever is going to do it is going to have to do the job and conform with the law.” Beshear said.
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis refuses to issue licenses, citing her religious beliefs. A federal judge is considering a lawsuit against her and is expected to make a ruling in August. Beshear still refuses to say what his personal beliefs are toward gay marriage.
