Group that backed Kentucky clerk wants to defend NC’s new LGBT law

A group best known for helping defended Kentucky clerk Kim Davis in her fight to avoid performing same-sex marriages wants to support North Carolina’s new LGBT law.

Liberty Counsel, which specializes it litigation involving evangelical Christian issues, sent a letter to state leaders Thursday offering to help with a lawsuit against House Bill 2. The controversial law replaces local ordinances with a statewide nondiscrimination law that doesn’t include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories.

“Liberty Counsel was encouraged to see the resolve and fortitude of the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor McRory (sic) in enacting the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act,” Mathew Stavert wrote.

Liberty Counsel says it will defend the state against LGBT groups in court at no cost.

“Liberty Counsel is ready to provide a robust defense of the North Carolina legislature’s interest in seeing the Act upheld, and in preserving the privacy and safety rights of its citizens from attack by those who would deconstruct gender,” Stavert wrote.

The group made headlines when it backed Davis, who briefly went to jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Group that backed Kentucky clerk wants to defend NC’s new LGBT law."