Evan Wolfson said Freedom to Marry remains on track to close. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Despite the media frenzy over Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and reports same-sex couples still can’t marry in certain pockets of the United States, the LGBT group Freedom to Marry is sticking with its plan to close down.

Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, said Friday in a statement to the Washington Blade his organization is “very much on track to shut down” in the coming months when asked if developments in the past week have changed things.

“Nothing about this past week’s predictable, hyped-up clerk/Liberty Counsel/Huckabee, etc. sideshow in Kentucky changes anything,” Wolfson said. “America is a big country and it’s not surprising that there’d be a handful of isolated instances of acting out and grandstanding. But overwhelmingly, the American people have seen that marriage for same-sex couples is a good thing, and even most of those who do not yet support the freedom to marry understand that we all must follow the law.”

Freedom to Marry has been open about its plans to close in the event the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage even before the historic ruling came down in June. After the decision, the organization in July hosted an event with Vice President Joseph Biden celebrating the ruling and planned closure, announcing that it would cease “many of its operations by Sept. 30 and will shut its doors completely in the following months.”

Wolfson told the Blade on Friday the timeframe for closure is the same, saying, “Nothing about last week changed anything in our work, our timeline, or our plans to wind down intelligently and collaboratively.”

But despite the ruling and widespread compliance, the areas resisting the change still attract attention. The most prominent case is Davis, who was jailed for five nights after she was found in contempt of court for defying multiple rulings compelling her to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in her office.

In Alabama, an estimated 14 counties have ceased marriage operations altogether. In North Carolina, where a new state law enables magistrates to opt out of same-sex marriage, a total of 32 magistrates have invoked the exemption, including all four magistrates in McDowell County.

“The minuscule instances of dragging and delay will be addressed and resolved, and, if anything, serve as useful teaching-moments that help continue the marriage conversation and the opportunity to keep building support, harnessing our marriage momentum to the work of winning non-discrimination and other important objectives,” Wolfson said.

Wolfson said Freedom to Marry has closed down its fundraising and federal office and is now archiving and compiling the history and lessons learned. The organization is also continuing to help shape the national narrative and respond to questions and needs, Wolfson said.