Kim Davis Back At Work, But Remains Defiant

[redheadbaker]

Kim Davis, the county clerk in Kentucky who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is back to work today — saying she will neither authorize such licenses nor stand in the way of her deputies if they wish to do so.

Flanked by Rowan County Sheriff's deputies and her son, Nathan — a deputy clerk who has also refused to issue same-sex licenses — Davis said she loves God and her job but won't authorize the issuing of marriage licenses to gay couples.

"I am here before you this morning with a seemingly impossible choice, which I do not wish on any of my fellow Americans," she said. "My conscience or my freedom."

"My conscience or my ability to serve the people that I love," Davis continued, choking back tears. "Obey God or a directive that forces me to disobey God."

Her decision was clear, she said: "Effective immediately, and until an accommodation is provided, by those with the authority to provide it, any marriage license issued by my office will not be issued or authorized by me."

"I love my deputy clerks and I hate that they have been caught in the middle. If any of them feels that they must issue an unauthorized license to avoid being thrown in jail, I understand their tough choice and I will take no action against them," Davis said, but added: "Any unauthorized license that they issue will not have my name, my title or my authority on it. Instead, the license will state that they are issued pursuant to a federal court order."

Davis said she had "great doubts" that such licenses could be considered valid.

he urged Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and the court to intervene to allow such licenses to be issued under the generic authority of the state. "They have the authorization and the authority to provide these types of accommodations and there's no reason why they cannot do so."

During Davis' time in jail for contempt, at least one Rowan County deputy clerk, Brian Mason, has been issuing same-sex licenses.

As USA Today reports: "Upon returning to work in Morehead, Davis was greeted by a billboard installed by a non-profit organization that advocates for LGBTQ rights.The billboard erected by Planting Peace reads: 'Dear Kim Davis, The fact that you can't sell your daughter for three goats and a cow means we've already redefined marriage.'"

www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/09/14/440215241/kim-davis-back-at-work-but-remains-defiant

[smock]

I am rolling my eyes so hard at her tearful "I'm being forced to disobey God!" whines. Did she cry about disobeying God when she remarried for the second, third, and fourth time? Did she cry about disobeying God when she issued marriage licenses to previously divorced couples? Or when she cheated on her spouse? Yeah, I thought so.

[leeba25]

Sept 14, 2015 8:11:46 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

As USA Today reports: "Upon returning to work in Morehead, Davis was greeted by a billboard installed by a non-profit organization that advocates for LGBTQ rights.The billboard erected by Planting Peace reads: 'Dear Kim Davis, The fact that you can't sell your daughter for three goats and a cow means we've already redefined marriage.'"

I love this so, so much. 

ETA: 

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Fucking resign! If you don't want to hand out or be associated w/same marriage then leave your job you fucking multi-divorced hypocrite.

[bernsteincat]

[emilyj]

She better not be provided with an accommodation.

[decemberwedding07]

Sept 14, 2015 8:15:53 GMT -5 leeba25 said:

Sept 14, 2015 8:11:46 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

As USA Today reports: "Upon returning to work in Morehead, Davis was greeted by a billboard installed by a non-profit organization that advocates for LGBTQ rights.The billboard erected by Planting Peace reads: 'Dear Kim Davis, The fact that you can't sell your daughter for three goats and a cow means we've already redefined marriage.'"

I love this so, so much. 

ETA: 

And the fact that you can get divorced. And the fact that your husband doesn't basically own you.

[spindle92]

She is an elected person correct?
How long does she have left?

[ECB]

Sept 14, 2015 9:53:12 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

And the fact that you can get divorced. And the fact that your husband doesn't basically own you.

This is why so many of these "but my RELIGION" people annoy the fuck out of me.  They pick and choose what to follow. 

[msmerymac]

Sept 14, 2015 10:27:06 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

She is an elected person correct?
How long does she have left?

She took office in January, so I believe she was elected last November. I'm guessing it's a 4 year term, though I guess it could be as short as 2. 

[msmerymac]

Sept 14, 2015 10:32:27 GMT -5 ECB said:

Sept 14, 2015 9:53:12 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

And the fact that you can get divorced. And the fact that your husband doesn't basically own you.

This is why so many of these "but my RELIGION" people annoy the fuck out of me.  They pick and choose what to follow. 

The New Yorker has an article saying the exact same thing!


www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/kim-davis-needs-to-read-the-bible-again

[AAM2012]

So basically this bitch continues to get paid for not doing her job.

[notreal]

Sept 14, 2015 8:11:46 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Davis said she had "great doubts" that such licenses could be considered valid.

How is this not considered her still breaking the order? She is still willfully blocking legal marriage by forcing her people to issue potentially (and in her mind, hopefully) invalid marriage licenses.

Of course, they probably don't want her at the jail either. 

[Susie]

Sept 14, 2015 8:11:46 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Davis said she had "great doubts" that such licenses could be considered valid.

When a great legal scholar like Kim Davis has "great doubts" as to the validity of a document, we should definitely reconsider our stance.

[ttt]

[Deleted]

Sept 14, 2015 8:11:46 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

"My conscience or my ability to serve the people that I love," Davis continued, choking back tears. "Obey God or a directive that forces me to disobey God."

I am so fucking sick of people claiming God as their justification to decide who is worthy of love and acceptance, and who isn't.

Go wash some fucking feet and lower yourself to something lesser than a Pharisee. Bye.

[gretchenindisguise]

It's like the ultimate Office Space. "I will make others do my job for me while I sit on my ass and not be fired because I'm elected!!!"

[Deleted]

I have a random question.
I read an article that said she was a democrat. I know democrats can be bigots too. But why was she celebrating with Huckabee after being released from jail? She has become a republican poster girl.
?

[partiallysunny]

Isn't her third option to, ya know, resign?

It's not that fucking hard.

[Cicero]

Sept 15, 2015 5:12:15 GMT -5 @hannymaren said:

I have a random question.
I read an article that said she was a democrat. I know democrats can be bigots too. But why was she celebrating with Huckabee after being released from jail? She has become a republican poster girl.
?

Because Huckabee is a social conservative idiot who thinks this is his chance to get elected. She's not a Republican poster child. This isn't at all helping his polling numbers.

[Deleted]

Sept 14, 2015 10:32:27 GMT -5 ECB said:

Sept 14, 2015 9:53:12 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

And the fact that you can get divorced. And the fact that your husband doesn't basically own you.

This is why so many of these "but my RELIGION" people annoy the fuck out of me.  They pick and choose what to follow. 

...And then try to make it law so that you that you have to follow it to.

[eclaires]

I think it'd be nice if elected officials stopped talking about religion and God altogether. We are all humans who have a wide range of beliefs and let's just leave it at that. I think we are all evolved enough to understand that people can have different influences that still lead to the same moral conclusions that belong in the public sphere, religion or not. I don't think the country needs a religious guide even if individuals feel that need.

How about we all just be human, and let that drive us. Yeah sure, some humans are bad and some totally human tendencies are too, but I think everyone can agree (even though many won't) that religion isn't the reason people are good or moral or have good intentions. It can be, but all those things can exist without God or religion influencing someone too.

If an individual candidate is influenced by certain religious beliefs, great, but they have to work within the confines of a secular nation. There's a lot that doesn't need to be in the public sphere.