Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

Clerks across the nation are trying to find different ways of coping with the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on homosexual marriage. Rowan County, Kentucky, Clerk Kim Davis has attempted to stay true to her religious beliefs against gay marriage by refusing to issue marriage licenses of any type, homo- or heterosexual. Davis finds herself squarely in the cross hairs of the ACLU now because of her efforts, however. Not only has the ACLU brought suit against Davis in her official capacity, it is also suing her personally for court costs, attorney fees, and punitive damages. This personal element seems to extend beyond simply suing an employee for failing to perform her duties. If this is the ACLU's plan of attack, governors everywhere need to step up to defend the personal rights of their employees and citizens. To question a person's activities on the job is one thing; to attempt to cause financial hardship in their personal lives is another matter altogether.