Kentucky's Attorney General Jack Conway delivered a powerful and emotional speech this week in which he announced that he would not defend Kentucky's ban on same-sex marriage in court.

The speech comes several weeks after a federal judge struck down a portion of Kentucky's ban on same-sex unions, telling state lawmakers that they must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.

"I came to the inescapable conclusion that if I [defended this ban] I would be defending discrimination," Conway states in the above video. "That I will not do. As attorney general of Kentucky I must draw the line when it comes to discrimination. The United States Constitution is designed to protect everyone's rights -- both the majority and minority groups."

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced on Tuesday that the state will hire outside attorneys to appeal the federal judge's decision to strike down the same-sex marriage ban in wake of Conway's refusal to further pursue the case.