Kim Davis, Jailed Over Kentucky Gay Marriage License Refusal, Free As Mike Huckabee Hypes: Christianity Vs LGBT Rights?
As Kim Davis was freed from jail, Mike Huckabee was noticeably beside her. The Republican White House wannabe helped turn the Kentucky clerk’s release and stance against issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples into a performance, reported CNN.
For five days, Kim has remained in jail. Davis was put behind bars when she refused to perform one of her assigned duties as the clerk, which was to provide all individuals with marriage licenses per the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Huckabee, who once was the governor of Arkansas and now wants to become president, had taken on Kim’s situation to champion her. Davis was released and arrived at a rally.
As the song “Eye of the Tiger” played, Kim stepped into view with Mike.
“If somebody needs to go to jail, I’m willing to go in her place,” announced Huckabee.
https://youtu.be/ydyFhIjdRlU
To show his support for Davis, Ted Cruz was in Kentucky as well. However, it was Mike, not Cruz, who was a visible part of Kim’s rally.
“Praise God that Kim Davis is being released,” wrote Ted on social media. “It was an outrage that she was imprisoned for six days for living according to her Christian faith.”
But what’s next for Kim and those who support gay marriage and feel that her stance threatens LGBT rights, and why was Davis freed?
When District Judge David Bunning established what’s to come next, he emphasized that Davis must allow deputy clerks to give same-sex couples their marriage licenses.
As the Inquisitr reported, with Kim absent, some of Davis’ deputies said they would issue the licenses. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear addressed that compliance.
“Deputy clerks have said they will commence issuing marriage licenses beginning (Friday). It appears that the citizens of Rowan County will now have access to all the services from the clerk’s office to which they are entitled,” he emphasized.
However, with Kim freed, will Davis allow the situation to continue? The Kentucky clerk’s attorney stated what he sees as his client’s position on same-sex marriage licenses, reported MSNBC.
“She cannot allow a license authorizing same-sex marriage to go under her authority or name,” asserted Mat Staver. “That’s been her position from the beginning and that will be her position, I assume, on any subsequent occasion. She’s asking for a simple fix, a simple accommodation.”
Both Kim and Huckabee talked about Davis’ Christian beliefs as the reason for her stance.
“We cannot criminalize the Christian faith or anybody’s faith in this country,” said the Republican presidential candidate.
When Davis talked at the rally, she also emphasized that it was her religious convictions that motivated her.
“I just want to give God the glory. We serve a living God who knows exactly where each and everyone stands. Keep pressing, don’t let down because he is here. He is worthy.”
While Kim was in prison, Davis’ deputies handed out same-sex marriage licenses. However, the Kentucky clerk’s lawyer claims that they are not valid. That’s a view with which Rowan County Attorney Cecil Watkins disagrees.
At this point, Kim’s lawyers have filed appeals. Because Gov. Steve Beshear has mandated that all county clerks issue marriage licenses, Davis’ representatives have asked to have her name taken off the licenses. Once that is done, the lawyers promised she would not block deputies from providing same-sex couples with marriage licenses.
But in Beshear’s eyes, that can be done only by the state legislature, and he estimated that a special session designed just to manage this request would cost thousands of taxpayer dollars.
“[Kim Davis] shall not interfere in any way, directly or indirectly, with the efforts of her deputy clerks to issue marriage licenses to all legally eligible couples,” said Bunning said in his order.
But do her attorney’s comments imply that the problem will recur, and are LGBT rights at risk? What do you think? Post your comments below.
[Photo by Ty Wright/Getty Images]
