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Kentucky clerk Kim Davis to allow deputies to issue marriage licenses Kentucky clerk Kim Davis to allow deputies to issue marriage licenses
(35 minutes later)
Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis said on Monday that she would not authorize her deputies to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but, if they chose to, she would not take “action” against them.Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis said on Monday that she would not authorize her deputies to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but, if they chose to, she would not take “action” against them.
Davis – the embattled county clerk who was propelled to the national limelight for defying a federal judge’s order – delivered a statement to reporters outside her office on her first day back to work since the 49-year-old was sent to jail for refusing to issue licenses to gay couples earlier this month.Davis – the embattled county clerk who was propelled to the national limelight for defying a federal judge’s order – delivered a statement to reporters outside her office on her first day back to work since the 49-year-old was sent to jail for refusing to issue licenses to gay couples earlier this month.
A large crowd of supporters gathered ahead of what was expected to be a tense day, with the question of whether Davis would allow her deputies to process licenses to all eligible couples up in the air.A large crowd of supporters gathered ahead of what was expected to be a tense day, with the question of whether Davis would allow her deputies to process licenses to all eligible couples up in the air.
“To affix my name or authoritative title to a certificate that authorizes marriage that conflicts with god’s definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman violates my deeply held religious convictions and conscience,” Davis said, reading from a prepared statement.“To affix my name or authoritative title to a certificate that authorizes marriage that conflicts with god’s definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman violates my deeply held religious convictions and conscience,” Davis said, reading from a prepared statement.
State, county and local police flanked the clerk’s office on a rather brisk day in the small town of Morehead, which has been transformed into a focal point for religious conservatives opposed to same-sex marriage.State, county and local police flanked the clerk’s office on a rather brisk day in the small town of Morehead, which has been transformed into a focal point for religious conservatives opposed to same-sex marriage.
Davis called for Kentucky governor Steve Beshear to call a special session of the Kentucky legislature to consider a bill that would remove clerks’ names from marriage licenses if they cite a sincerely religious belief.Davis called for Kentucky governor Steve Beshear to call a special session of the Kentucky legislature to consider a bill that would remove clerks’ names from marriage licenses if they cite a sincerely religious belief.
Davis, however, said she had issued a new policy, effective immediately, to abide by Bunning’s order. Any marriage licenses processed by her office “will not be issued or authorized by me”. Instead, she said, the licenses would state they were issued “pursuant to a court order”.Davis, however, said she had issued a new policy, effective immediately, to abide by Bunning’s order. Any marriage licenses processed by her office “will not be issued or authorized by me”. Instead, she said, the licenses would state they were issued “pursuant to a court order”.
Her deputy clerks do not have her authorization to issue licenses, she added.Her deputy clerks do not have her authorization to issue licenses, she added.
If any deputy clerk issues a license to avoid being held in contempt and thrown in jail, “I understand their tough choice,” she said.If any deputy clerk issues a license to avoid being held in contempt and thrown in jail, “I understand their tough choice,” she said.
“I will take no action against them,” Davis said. “However, any unauthorized license issued will not have my name, my title or my authority on it.”“I will take no action against them,” Davis said. “However, any unauthorized license issued will not have my name, my title or my authority on it.”
The decision seems to keep her in line with Judge David Bunning’s order to release Davis from jail if she didn’t interfere with her deputies’ efforts to issue licenses. Davis was jailed on 3 September for six days.The decision seems to keep her in line with Judge David Bunning’s order to release Davis from jail if she didn’t interfere with her deputies’ efforts to issue licenses. Davis was jailed on 3 September for six days.
“I just want to serve my neighbors quietly, without violating my conscience,” Davis said, fighting back tears.“I just want to serve my neighbors quietly, without violating my conscience,” Davis said, fighting back tears.
Following her statement, Davis supporters gathered around a small group who took turns preaching against gay marriage.Following her statement, Davis supporters gathered around a small group who took turns preaching against gay marriage.
Local groups said couples were expected to attempt to obtain a license from Davis’s office on Monday.Local groups said couples were expected to attempt to obtain a license from Davis’s office on Monday.
Police blocked the entrance to the clerk’s offices and courthouse off Main Street.Davis’s husband, Joe Davis, declined to comment when approached by the Guardian.Police blocked the entrance to the clerk’s offices and courthouse off Main Street.Davis’s husband, Joe Davis, declined to comment when approached by the Guardian.
The crowd were overwhelmingly in favor of Davis’s position – a big change from previous gatherings in the case.The crowd were overwhelmingly in favor of Davis’s position – a big change from previous gatherings in the case.
Nancy McFarland held a sign along the sidewalk that read: “Taking back the rainbow,” which she claimed had been misappropriated by the LGBT community. The Ohio resident drove down to Kentucky last night, along with throngs of Davis supporters.Nancy McFarland held a sign along the sidewalk that read: “Taking back the rainbow,” which she claimed had been misappropriated by the LGBT community. The Ohio resident drove down to Kentucky last night, along with throngs of Davis supporters.
The rainbow has “sorta been hijacked,” McFarland said. “For us to ignore the rainbow and such because they’ve taken it, it’s not a good thing.”The rainbow has “sorta been hijacked,” McFarland said. “For us to ignore the rainbow and such because they’ve taken it, it’s not a good thing.”
McFarland noted that Kentucky overwhelmingly passed a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. When the US supreme court overturned the ban on 26 June, McFarland said “those judges overthrew the will of the people.”McFarland noted that Kentucky overwhelmingly passed a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. When the US supreme court overturned the ban on 26 June, McFarland said “those judges overthrew the will of the people.”
Preachers outside the courtroom lobbed a stream of rhetoric against gay marriage throughout the early hours of the day.
“To be black is not a sin ... but being a practicing homosexual is a sin against the almighty God,” said Flip Benham, an evangelical minister with the anti-abortion group Operation Save America.
Cal Zastrow, also with the group, said that, although he has stood by Davis throughout the ordeal, he wouldn’t support the clerk’s policy to allow deputies to issue licenses without her authorization.
“Our position would be that it’s against the law to issue licenses to same-sex couples,” Zastrow said. The Michigan resident said he has been active in Morehead for the last two weeks, mobilizing church groups to stand with Davis.
“We’re seeing raw tyranny here,” he said.
A same-sex couple was expected to arrive at the courthouse to obtain a license at 10am local time.