Justice

Kim Davis Says She Is Prepared to Return to Jail

September 22nd 2015

On Tuesday morning, Kim Davis told Good Morning America correspondent Paula Faris that she is prepared to return to jail rather than put her name on same-sex marriage licenses in Kentucky.

“My constituents elected me, but the main authority that rules my life is the Lord,” Davis told Faris. “I can’t put my name on a license that doesn’t represent what God ordained marriage to be.

Davis told Faris that some of the hate mail she has received has referred to her as a ‘homophobe’ and ‘Hitler.’

“Those names don’t hurt me,” Davis said. “What probably hurt me the worst is when someone tells me that my God does not love me or that my God is not happy with me, that I am a hypocrite of a Christian.”

Still, Davis says that her four marriages and children out of wedlock do not matter in the eyes of her God.

“I’m forgiven. Washed clean.”

What exactly is Kim Davis' job?

Davis was elected as a Democrat in the 2014 Rowan County Primary Election, taking office as county clerk in January 2015. Her various duties include issuing marriage licenses in Rowan County.

RELATED: WHAT KIM DAVIS IS SAYING ON HER FIRST DAY BACK TO WORK

Since Davis returned to work, Deputy Clerk Brian Mason has been issuing the same-sex licenses, which read that they are “pursuant to federal court order.” These altered licenses are forcing gay couples to question their validation.

Why is Davis still in office?

Because she is an elected official, removal of Davis will have to be ordered by the state legislature, but before that happens, Davis is “willing” to return to jail for her faith.

 


RELATED: WHY KIM DAVIS IS AT ODDS WITH THE LAW

What’s next for Davis?

Good Morning America reports that Davis has inspired clerks in at least five states to also seek exemptions from issuing same-sex licenses. Davis she says that same-sex couples should not look to marriage licenses for personal validation, anyway.

“I don’t think dignity is guaranteed in the constitution. I think dignity is something you find within yourself,” Davis said. “I feel really sad that someone could be so unhappy with themselves as a person that they did not feel dignified as a human being until the got a piece of paper. I mean, there’s just so much more to life than that.”

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