Clerk who won’t let gays marry once defended by her fourth husband
The fourth husband of a Kentucky county clerk who keeps refusing to marry gays has defended her.
Joe Davis, Kim’s husband, went to check on her as protesters remained on the steps of her courthouse after several days.
He said they had changed their phone number after continually receiving threats, but suggested they would not hesitate to bear arms.
“I’m an old redneck hillbilly, that’s all I’ve got to say,” Davis told the Associated Press. “Don’t come knocking on my door.”
He said he has faith in the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms.
Saying his wife was “standing for God”, Davis compared her to biblical figures Paul and Silas, who were sent to prison before being rescued by God.
He continued: “They want us to accept their beliefs and their ways. But they won’t accept our beliefs and our ways.”
Invoking her biblical beliefs, Kim Davis continues to refuse to issue marriage licences to gay couples, despite a number of courts ordering her to do so.
Despite this, protesters have pointed out that she has been married four times, and has given birth to children outside of wedlock.
She was previously caught on camera refusing to provide a same-sex couple with a marriage license, and has continued to refuse to marry gay couples – despite a federal court ordering her to.
Davis had appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that religious freedom means she doesn’t have to do her job – but this week the highest court in the US also refused to issue her a stay.
The one-line ruling means that Davis she has likely exhausted her avenue of legal challenges to stall on the issue – and could now face repercussions if she continues to refuse to marry same-sex couples.
