Tag: same-sex marriage

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County Clerk Kim Davis: Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Would Send Me To Hell

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has released this statement about her current predicament (of her own making) regarding her failure to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Via Liberty Counsel:

“I have worked in the Rowan County Clerk’s office for 27 years as a Deputy Clerk and was honored to be elected as the Clerk in November 2014, and took office in January 2015. I love my job and the people of Rowan County. I have never lived any place other than Rowan County. Some people have said I should resign, but I have done my job well. This year we are on track to generate a surplus for the county of 1.5 million dollars.

“In addition to my desire to serve the people of Rowan County, I owe my life to Jesus Christ who loves me and gave His life for me. Following the death of my godly mother-in-law over four years ago, I went to church to fulfill her dying wish. There I heard a message of grace and forgiveness and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I am not perfect. No one is. But I am forgiven and I love my Lord and must be obedient to Him and to the Word of God.

“I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will.

“To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Our history is filled with accommodations for people’s religious freedom and conscience. I want to continue to perform my duties, but I also am requesting what our Founders envisioned – that conscience and religious freedom would be protected. That is all I am asking. I never sought to be in this position, and I would much rather not have been placed in this position. I have received death threats from people who do not know me. I harbor nothing against them. I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience.”

It’s worth noting that on many occasions Davis has issued marriage licenses to folks who have been divorced, which is also a no-no in the Bible. She has no problem ignoring some tenets of the Bible, but her focus on same-sex marriage is almost an obsession.

It’s clear her decision to discriminate against same-sex couples is about her personal animus for LGBT folks, and not her “deeply held” religious beliefs.

Davis has been summoned to a federal court hearing on Thursday morning, along with her full squad of deputy clerks, on possible contempt of court charges.

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Kentucky: ACLU Files Contempt Of Court Motion Against County Clerk Kim Davis

The ACLU has filed a contempt of court motion against Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis for her refusal to follow the law and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Last night, Davis ran out of legal options when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene. Davis is now bound by the ruling by U.S. District Judge Bunning to begin issuing marriage licenses.

The motion specifically asks that Davis not be thrown in jail, but be fined. Clearly the visual of Davis being incarcerated would give the haters the martyr they are dreaming of.

From the motion:

Plaintiffs do not seek to compel Davis’ compliance through incarceration. Since Defendant Davis continues to collect compensation from the Commonwealth for duties she fails to perform, Plaintiffs urge the the Court to impose financial penalties sufficiently serious and increasingly onerous to compel Davis’ immediate compliance without further delay.

According to the AP, Davis and her deputy clerks have been summoned to a federal court hearing this coming Thursday at 11am where she may be found in contempt of court.

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Video: Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis Defies SCOTUS, Continues To Deny Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples

Last night, the U.S. Supreme Court denied County Clerk Kim Davis’ request for an emergency stay on the ruling by a federal judge which compels her to do her job and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Continue reading “Video: Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis Defies SCOTUS, Continues To Deny Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples”

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SCOTUS Says “No” To Kentucky County Clerk – Must Issue Same-Sex Couples Marriage Licenses

The U.S. Supreme Court rebuffed Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis’ request for a stay on a federal judge’s ruling that would require her to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Via the Courier-Journal:

“The application for stay presented to Justice (Elena) Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied,” the order said.

Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees the 6th district, referred Davis’ request to the full court, which denied the stay without comment.

A stay issued earlier by U.S. District Judge David Bunning expired Monday.

In a separate development, the Kentucky attorney general is mulling whether to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate whether she violated the state official misconduct statute when her office refused to issue a license to a Rowan County gay couple.

Official misconduct is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 365 days in jail.

Done and done.

Do your job, Kim Davis.

UPDATE:

The Human Rights Campaign issued this statement:

“Ms. Davis’ choices are clear: she must either choose to follow the law or resign her public position. A public official’s personal religious opinion does not give her the privilege to trample over the rights of others. Freedom of religion is important, and Ms. Davis has the fundamental right to believe what she likes. But as a public servant, she does not have the right to pick and choose which laws she will follow or which services she will provide. We are pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied the stay.”

And the ACLU had this to say:

“Today the U.S. Supreme Court resoundingly affirmed that government officials must carry out the duties of public office. By refusing to simply issue a form, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has prevented our clients, four loving couples, from obtaining marriage licenses in the county where they live and pay taxes. Davis has no basis for any further delay in denying couples the freedom to marry.”

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News Round-Up: August 31, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• It’s time for Monday Men At Work (see above)

• The gay couple in Rowan County, Kentucky, who have been denied a marriage license three times have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the county government and County Clerk Kim Davis.

• A man with a 19″ penis says it makes working and having a social dating life impossible.

• Fox and Friends host Elizabeth Hasselbeck doesn’t understand why the #BlackLivesMatter movement hasn’t been named a “hate group.” Seriously.

• Five HIV+ men offer advice to their younger selves about surviving and thriving post-diagnosis.

• Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis is running out of time and options in her fight to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Time to do your job, Ms. Davis.

• Ellen DeGeneres announces GapKids x ED, a new collection for Gap Kids that is for every girl no matter “whether they skateboard or dance, wear dresses or jeans, build forts or paint rainbows, or everything in between.”

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Irish President Signs Marriage Equality Constitutional Amendment

Irish President Michael Higgins on Saturday officially signed an amendment to his country’s constitution that extends marriage rights to same-sex couples in his country.

Higgins amended the Irish Constitution roughly three months after Ireland became the first country in the world in which same-sex couples received marriage rights through a popular vote. The Irish Times reported Prime Minister Edna Kenny’s government next month will introduce a bill that would allow the amendment to officially take effect.

“We are all delighted,” Tiernan Brady of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, an Irish advocacy group, told the Washington Blade on Saturday in a statement. “This is a historic moment for LGBT people and everyone in Ireland. After the joyful scenes that followed the resounding yes vote last May it is wonderful that President Higgins has signed the act and made the result official.”

Irish lawmakers in July approved a bill that will allow transgender people to legally change their gender without medical intervention.

Same-sex couples are able to legally marry in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Iceland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico City and several Mexican states, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

(from the Washington Blade)

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Kentucky: Official Misconduct Charges Filed Against County Clerk By Rowan County Government

The hits just keep coming for anti-gay Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis in Kentucky.

Official misconduct charges have been referred to the Kentucky Attorney General by the Rowan County government against Davis late Friday afternoon.

From the Lexington CBS affiliate:

The Rowan County Attorney’s Office said on Friday that it has referred to the Attorney General’s Office a charge of official misconduct against Davis. A release from the county attorneys office says Kentucky Bar Association “Rules of the Supreme Court of Kentucky prohibit the Rowan County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting Davis” because they are involved in current litigation with Davis.

“Typically, the attorney general’s office refers conflict cases to a prosecutor from another county,” the release says.

The release says Rowan County Government and the Rowan County Attorney’s Office cannot take any other action against Kim Davis.

“Kentucky state government is the only entity that can move to have Kim Davis removed as Rowan County Clerk,” the release says.

A spokeswoman for the attorney generals office told WKYT they are looking into the matter.

According to Morehead News:

Official misconduct in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable with imprisonment not to exceed 12 months and fines of $500.

Official misconduct in the second degree is a Class B misdemeanor and carries a potential punishment of up to 90 days imprisonment and fines of $250.

The charge must be tried in court before a designation of first or second degree is placed upon it.

Davis, who has been married four times, refuses to issue marriage licenses to gays and lesbians over her “deeply held religious beliefs.”

“Religious beliefs” that clearly don’t cover the issue of divorce.

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Donald Trump Dodges His Way Around Opposing Marriage Equality

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, 2016 GOP aspirant Donald Trump said he “wouldn’t speak to them at all about it” if he were asked by a son/daughter/grandchild about why he opposes same-sex marriage.

Wow. That’s ‘presidential.’

From LGBTQ Nation:

Trump replied, “Well, it’s the way it is. I wouldn’t speak to them at all about it, other than they are who they are and I want them to be happy and I will love them and I will cherish them.”

“I’ve gone to gay weddings,” he continued. “I’ve been at gay weddings. I have been against it from the standpoint of Bible, from the standpoint of my teachings as growing up and going to Sunday school and going to church and I’ve been opposed to it.”

“We’ll just see how it all comes out,” he concluded, “but if I was ever in that position I’d just have to explain it.”

In recent days, the thrice-married Trump (isn’t divorce a bad thing in the Bible too?) has proclaimed the Bible his favorite book; although, he was not able to quote or reference a single verse from the good book.

What’s clear to many is Trump’s “opposition” to marriage equality is only an attempt to placate evangelical Republicans. I no more believe Trump opposes same-sex marriage than I believe he opposes divorce.

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Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis Requests Extension Of Same-Sex Marriage Ruling, Heads To SCOTUS

County clerk Kim Davis (R)

Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, having received a big fat “no” from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding a stay on a federal judge’s ruling that would compel her to follow the law and issue marriage licenses, is now heading to the U.S. Supreme Court asking for an “emergency” stay.

The original stay by federal Judge David Bunning expires on Monday, August 31st. That stay was issued in “deference” to the 6th Circuit Court. Davis has asked Bunning for an extension to accommodate time for SCOTUS.

Here is Davis’ request:

This Court granted Davis a temporary stay of the Injunction Order through August 31, 2015. (Docs. 52, 55.) The Court’s reason for granting the temporary stay was “deference to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals . . . to give the appellate court an opportunity to review, on an expedited basis,” Davis’ request for a stay pending appeal. (Doc. 55 at 1.)

The Sixth Circuit entered an order denying Davis’ motion for stay pending appeal by Order dated August 26, 2015. (6th Cir. Case No. 15-5880, Doc. 28-1.) Davis filed today, however, in the Supreme Court of the United States, an emergency application to stay the Injunction Order.

Accordingly, Davis now requests that this Court extend the same deference to the Supreme Court, to give the Supreme Court an opportunity to review and finally decide Davis’ emergency application for stay.

WHEREFORE, defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff Kim Davis respectfully requests that this Court extend the temporary stay of the Injunction Order pending the Supreme Court’s final disposition of her emergency application for a stay pending appeal, by the form of the proposed order attached hereto.

It is doubtful that SCOTUS would grant the “emergency” stay. Davis’ cases hinges on flouting the ruling made BY SCOTUS.

And speaking of that ruling, all requests that come from within the 6th Circuit are routed to Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagen, who sided in favor of marriage equality in the recent historic ruling.

In her filing with SCOTUS, Davis’ lawyers contend that since there are county clerks in Kentucky (several hours away), gays and lesbians can still get married, so what’s the harm?

SRSLY.

UPDATE: Federal Judge Bunning denied an extension of his original stay.

We’ll see what SCOTUS says…

Bye Felecia.