Kentucky clerk jailed for denying same-sex marriage
Posted: 04 Sep 2015, 00:09
See article below - this person thought it was her duty to not obey the law. Can't believe people are still like this. Glad she was sent to jail.
A county clerk in Kentucky who refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds has been held in contempt by a US federal judge and sent to jail.
Rowan county clerk Kim Davis, 49, was led away by US marshals who confirmed she was under arrest.
"The court doesn't do this lightly," district court judge David Bunning said in ordering that she be taken into custody.
Mr Bunning said his earlier injunction ordering Davis to issue marriage licenses applied to everyone and not just the four couples whose suit in July had accused Davis of not doing her job.
Davis has refused to issue licenses to any couples, gay or straight, since the US Supreme Court in June ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry under the US Constitution, citing her beliefs as an Apostolic Christian.
Apostolic Christian beliefs are rooted in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
Before and during the hearing, about 200 demonstrators on both sides of the issue gathered outside the courthouse, some chanting slogans and many holding signs like "God is great" and "Do your job".
As word of the ruling emerged, supporters of same-sex marriage erupted in cheers.
The hearing in Ashland, Kentucky, lasted just over two hours.
Crying at times, the soft-spoken Davis maintained that a marriage could only be between a man and a woman and she was unable to recognise same-sex marriages.
"Marriage is a union between one man and one woman," she said under questioning by her attorney.
Davis thanked the judge before walking toward the marshals.
"I've weighed the cost and I'm prepared to go to jail," Davis told local media.
"This has never been a gay or lesbian issue for me. This is about upholding the word of God."
A county clerk in Kentucky who refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds has been held in contempt by a US federal judge and sent to jail.
Rowan county clerk Kim Davis, 49, was led away by US marshals who confirmed she was under arrest.
"The court doesn't do this lightly," district court judge David Bunning said in ordering that she be taken into custody.
Mr Bunning said his earlier injunction ordering Davis to issue marriage licenses applied to everyone and not just the four couples whose suit in July had accused Davis of not doing her job.
Davis has refused to issue licenses to any couples, gay or straight, since the US Supreme Court in June ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry under the US Constitution, citing her beliefs as an Apostolic Christian.
Apostolic Christian beliefs are rooted in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
Before and during the hearing, about 200 demonstrators on both sides of the issue gathered outside the courthouse, some chanting slogans and many holding signs like "God is great" and "Do your job".
As word of the ruling emerged, supporters of same-sex marriage erupted in cheers.
The hearing in Ashland, Kentucky, lasted just over two hours.
Crying at times, the soft-spoken Davis maintained that a marriage could only be between a man and a woman and she was unable to recognise same-sex marriages.
"Marriage is a union between one man and one woman," she said under questioning by her attorney.
Davis thanked the judge before walking toward the marshals.
"I've weighed the cost and I'm prepared to go to jail," Davis told local media.
"This has never been a gay or lesbian issue for me. This is about upholding the word of God."