The Ballad of Rowan County — Love Still Wins

Yesterday, Kim Davis walked out of the Carter County Detention Center to the tune of “Eye of the Tiger,” pumping her fists in victory. The song choice was an odd one — not only because its use raised the ire of the song’s writer, but because Davis has not been victorious. Her effort to place her personal religious beliefs about marriage for same-sex couples above the law and to prevent our clients and other Rowan County couples from obtaining marriage licenses in the county where they live, work, and pay taxes has been an abject failure.

The victory in this case rests with our clients and other Rowan County couples who have received marriage licenses from the clerk’s office in recent days and who can no longer be denied their fundamental constitutional rights. As the district court noted in releasing Ms. Davis, any attempt she makes to interfere with this process will directly violate the court’s order and could lead to further sanctions against her.

This victory — a triumph of equality and love over discrimination and exclusion — should be celebrated. That’s why we’ve put together this playlist in honor of our clients April Miller and Karen Ann Roberts, Shantel Burke and Stephen Napier, Jody Fernandez and Kevin Holloway, and Aaron Skaggs and Barry W. Spartman.

To paraphrase “Eye of the Tiger,” these brave couples had the guts, and they should get the glory.

Check out our definitive Love Still Wins playlist. Feel free to add your favorite songs in the below comments.

1. “Same Love” — Macklmore and Ryan Lewis

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2. “One Love” — Bob Marley

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3. “Happy” — Pharrell

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4. “At Last” — Etta James

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5. “Follow Your Arrow” — Kacey Musgraves

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6. “I Choose You” — Sara Bareilles

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7. “One” — U2

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8. “Closer” — Teagan and Sara

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9. “Revival” — Allman Brothers

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10. “All You Need is Love” — Beatles

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