Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who challenged the Supreme Court's order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on the grounds that it violated her "religious freedom," was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals today after being ordered to jail for contempt of court by a federal judge.
Although lawyers for the Kentucky branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had asked that Davis be fined for her refusal to obey the court's orders, Judge David L. Bunning ordered Davis to jail instead, citing what he claimed was a lack of evidence that fines would motivate her to comply with the court's order. Bunning said that Davis can be released as soon as she indicates her willingness to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Since Davis appears determined to become a martyr to the cause, that may be very well be never. Oh darn.
Davis has come under extra fire since the details of her own spectacularly lurid marital past came to light. While she claims that gay marriage violates her religious beliefs about marriage, it turns out that Saint Kim has actually been married four times and divorced three times. In fact, while married to husband number one, she actually got pregnant with husband number three's twins. Sanctity of marriage, indeed.
Now, I don't begrudge a woman her ability to make whatever life decisions work for her, and I won't shame her for having four husbands, three divorces, or committing adultery like a rockstar. But, I will join the Internet chorus in proclaiming that this shit is bananas. If you can't even live by your own religious beliefs, you probably shouldn't try to force them on random strangers.
To further emphasize what can only be described as a batshitcrazy level of hypocrisy, a petition has been started on change.org to ensure that Davis receives the Biblical treatment for her own "misdeeds" –– stoning. While I wouldn't go quite that far, the point is taken. Multiple other petitions have also been started to remove her from office.
ICYMI, Davis has refused to issue marriage licenses to all couples, gay or straight, since the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Oberfell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in June. Last Friday, Davis filed a petition to stay the Supreme Court's ruling in Oberfell. Her appeal was denied and she was ordered to begin issuing marriage licenses by the Court Monday afternoon.
Despite a direct order by the SCOTUS, Davis still refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples earlier this week. Because clerks are elected officials, Davis has continued to serve as clerk despite her refusal to perform her job duties. It would require a two-thirds majority vote of the state legislature to remove her from her position or, you know, she could just quit.
Have fun in jail, Kim!
