Anti-Gay County Clerk

OK, Kim Davis is the duly elected Kentucky Rowen County Clerk. Her job includes issuing legal marriage licenses to couples about to be married. She has refused to issue licenses to gay couples. When that landed her in hot water she extended her refusal to all couples – gay or straight – claiming she was not discriminating against anyone in that way.

But she is wrong. Of course she is wrong. She is discriminating against gay couples period. Extending her action to all couples means she is discriminating against all couples.

She claims her religious freedom has been curtailed. That is not true. Kim Davis is free to believe her own brand of theology, practice her religion freely, anywhere and anytime she wants. No one is restricting her.

What she is doing is restricting religious and political freedom of those in her county who wish to be married. You see, Kim feels her religious beliefs trump yours and mine. So, she refuses to act in any manner that would be counter to her beliefs.

I don’t really believe her in this. For one, she has been married four times so I guess the sanctity of marriage is something she has trouble practicing. Second, she recognizes the name she has earned for herself by defying the Supreme Court ruling extending marriage to gay couples equal to straight couples. Evidently she has plans for elected office at a higher level. Her current actions are clearly a tactic to prepare her way to that elected height.

Third, and this is the real crux of the matter, Kim Davis swore an oath to uphold both the US Constitution and the Kentucky State Constitution. She is failing both oaths at this time. The Constitution places into being the three federal branches of government. Agree with their product or not, she does not have the freedom to flaunt any of the branches without consequences. She does not make such decisions that she can or cannot follow whatever is decided by the appropriate authority. The Congress is one. The Judiciary – headed by the Supreme Court – is another.

So. There you have it. Kim Davis is not doing her constitutionally established job and should be removed. Meanwhile, a deputy clerk should begin issuing marriage licenses immediately.

Concurrently, Kim Davis would be fired by court authority (Judiciary) and contempt of court proceedings processed leading to a jail term. Actions have consequences, Kim. You’ve had your say and your 15 minutes of attention. Now do all of us a favor and get out of the way. Go home and pray to your god and follow your religious convictions in a manner that does not directly impact others positively or negatively.

The media circus should focus on the constitutionality of her actions. What do legal scholars say? We have heard enough from Ms. Davis. We don’t need to hear from the clergy either. This is not about religion. This is about law. And order. And that we all are subject to it or we pay the consequences.

Let the consequences begin! [As of yesterday, September 3rd, Ms. Davis was sentenced to jail for contempt of court and her remaining deputy clerks were ordered to issue marriage licenses or they would be held in contempt of court as well and jailed. So far 5 of 6 deputy clerks have agreed to issue marriage licenses. Justice will out!]

September 4, 2015