13 Jobs Bible-Believing Kentucky Marriage Clerk Probably Shouldn’t Apply For
Kim Davis is a Kentucky county clerk who has been refusing to issue marriage licenses to both straight and same-sex couples — effectively refusing to do the job she’s paid for.
Davis had gone all the way to the Supreme Court to protest the enforcement of judges’ decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark case that recognized same-sex couples’ right to marry. Davis, an Apostolic Christian, insisted that she had a First Amendment right to deny licenses to lesbian and gay couples who visited the county clerk’s office in Rowan County. On Monday night, the Supreme Court refused to intervene.
But Davis isn’t budging on the issue and is invoking “God’s authority” to prove her point.
Davis certainly has the right not to compromise on her sincerely held religious beliefs.
In a blog for The Huffington Post, the United Church of Christ’s Rev. Emily C. Heath described how she faced a similar dilemma. In the end, she decided not to apply for a job with the Federal Bureau of Prisons because she didn’t want to be part of a system that still used the death penalty, which went against her religious beliefs.
“Religious liberty is guaranteed in this country. But that does not mean that every job needs to bend to your particular interpretation of your faith,” Heath writes. “If you really believe doing your job is violating your faith, then stepping aside would be a small price to pay for the love of the Gospel.”
We’re not sure how much longer Davis will stay in her position as county clerk. As an elected official, under Kentucky law she will hold her position unless she resigns, is impeached, or voted out of office.
But if Davis’ willingness to perform her professional duties hinges on a particularly strict interpretation of the Bible, it might be difficult for her to find jobs that suit her. Just in case, HuffPost Religion has come up with a list of 13 jobs that could be banned by the Bible. She should probably strike these off her list.
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Crowd chants ‘Do your job!’ to Rowan County Clerk who still refuses to issue marriage licenses
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis continued to refuse to issue marriage licenses on Tuesday (1 September) amid chants of ‘Do your job!’ from a crowd.
Several couples showed up at the clerk’s office to request licenses a day after the US Supreme Court denied Davis’ request that she be allowed to continue her defiance as she fights a judge’s ruling ordering her to do so.
Davis, who says she is against gay marriage for religious reasons, faced the couples and their supporters in a tense standoff and said she could refuse to issue licenses based ‘on God’s authority.’
‘We’re not leaving until we have a license,’ said David Ermold who showed up for the fifth time to request a license with partner David Moore.
Davis responded by saying: ‘Then you’re going to have a long day’ before walking away.
The clerk had supporters of her own in the room and they shouted ‘Praise the Lord’ and ‘Stand your ground.’
The room was eventually cleared by sheriff deputies.
Davis and her staff stopped issuing marriage licenses to all couples – straight or gay – after the Supreme Court ruled on 26 June that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 US states.
After the scene, two gay couples filed a request with a federal judge asking that Davis be found in contempt. They asked that she be fined but did not ask that she be jailed. Both sides are expected to appear in court later this week.
Below are videos of the scene inside the clerk’s office on Tuesday:
The post Crowd chants ‘Do your job!’ to Rowan County Clerk who still refuses to issue marriage licenses appeared first on Gay Star News.
Greg Hernandez
Kim Davis Refuses Yet Again to Provide a Marriage License to Same-Sex Couple
www.hrc.org/blog/entry/kim-davis?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
Ted Cruz Riles Up All-Male Crowd With Talk Of Gay Sin. Where’s The Afterparty?
We aren’t going to say that the all-male, all-white crowd behind (and assumedly in front of) Ted Cruz at the “We Stand With God” rally in South Carolina are confused about their own intimate desires, causing them to take a fear-based opposition to the wondrous fluidity that is human sexuality.
Actually, we are.
How else could you rationalize the powerful desire to congregate around an issue that *supposedly* has so very little to do with them?
Related: Turns Out Ted Cruz’s Father Rafael Is Just As Obsessed With Gay Sex As His Son
Regardless, Cruz took the opportunity to double-down on his “repeal gay marriage” nonsense:
“Let me tell you something,” he said. “Marriage existed long before the United States Supreme Court. Marriage existed long before the United States of America. Marriage was not ordained by any law in this country. Marriage was ordained by God Almighty, and Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit.”
He called the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision “fundamentally illegitimate” and “lawless,” and touted a bill he’s introduced that would allow states to ban same-sex marriage.
Then he tried to rally the people crazy enough to vote for him — the evangelical Christians — into getting out on election day, claiming 54 million of them stayed home on the last election.
But you know the message was lost on at least a few of the thumb-resembling white guys behind Cruz who spent the whole afternoon trying not to check out the candidate’s stump.
Watch below:
h/t NCRM
Dan Tracer
Australian Newsman Absolutely Cannot After Seeing This Massive Shark: WATCH
Australian newsman Karl Stefanovic was left speechless after glimpsing footage of a massive shark jumping in the air to chomp down on its prey.
The video of Stefanovic looking gobsmacked comes from Australian morning show Today. After staring off silently for several seconds, presumably rapt in terror, Stevanovic finally commented, “I am never going back in the water.” His co-host couldn’t help but agree, “Me either. No way. Stuff summer.”
Watch the video that may make you beach-shy, below:
The post Australian Newsman Absolutely Cannot After Seeing This Massive Shark: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Sean Mandell
Australian Newsman Absolutely Cannot After Seeing This Massive Shark: WATCH
Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Wants to Be Removed From Office. So Be It.
It’s clear now that Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses to anyone because of her religious opposition to marriage equality, is going to be a martyr to the cause. She and her supporters want a photo-op of her perhaps being physically removed from office so they can visually show what they claim is religious “persecution.”
And now it’s time for those of us who support justice to say, “So be it.” We cannot be held hostage to the theatrics of religious extremists, nor should we allow them to think that supposedly bad “optics” will deter us in demanding our rights. Defying the Supreme Court, which refused to grant her a stay as she appeals a ruling ordering her to issue licenses, Davis turned away couples again today. When asked under who’s authority she was doing this, she replied, “God’s authority,” and also said she’d face the “consequences” and told a gay couple they too “will face the consequences when it comes time for judgement.”
Some are seeking to get her fined, while the district attorney’s office is looking into official misconduct charges and the ACLU filed a motion in federal court seeking to have her held in contempt of the federal judge’s original order that she grant marriage licenses.
But none of that will stop Kim Davis and her attorney’s at the Liberty Counsel, the anti-gay legal group that has represented her. She’s ready to put her job and probably her body on the line, like a fellow clerk who supports her and said he’d “die” for the cause. They’d relish an image of Davis being dragged out of the office, and perhaps facing a fine or time in jail or both. They’ll use it to galvanize religious conservatives across the country (who will surely raise money for any fines she incurs) and it will give the GOP something with which to energize evangelical voters.
Kentucky Republican gubernatorial Matt Bevin is already defending Davis and attacking his Democratic opponent for not doing so. As I’ve noted, GOP presidential candidates, from Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz to Jeb Bush and Scott Walker, have been supporting individuals like Davis in their fight for “religious liberty” in the wake of the Supreme Court marriage equality ruling in June. And a bill in Congress introduced by GOP members, the First Amendment Defense Act, seeks to exempt people like Kim Davis from doing their jobs based on religious beliefs.
So, yes, a photo-op will be used to give red meat to the enemies of equality. Nonetheless, it’s time that all Americans see the hatred front and center against LGBT people — and see what people are willing to do in the name of that hate. A friend of mine suggested the “optics”of Davis being removed from office would be bad, and that it’s better for the gay couples to stage a sit-in and get arrested, thus showing they truly are the ones being persecuted here. He noted that during the lunch counter sit-ins during the civil rights movement it was those discriminated against who were arrested, an action that further showed the discrimination, and not the owners of the restaurants who were arrested, an action which would have brought those business owners sympathy.
It’s a fair point, but all of that happened before civil rights for racial and religious minorities became the law of the land with the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Marriage equality now is the law of the land. We should not and cannot worry that it might create backlash with many other Americans if they see Davis, now flagrantly defying a court order, brought to justice, even if means charges are brought against her and her supporters get their photo-op. The moment we pull back, fearful of the supposed ramifications, we are giving fuel to bigots and allowing them to organize further. They’ll then have a foothold while we show weakness. The majority of Americans know this is discrimination and are with LGBT people. We must stand strong and demand full equality everywhere.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
REVIEW: Ham Yard – Soho, London
Part of the newish Ham Yard Hotel tucked away down the end of Archer Street in Soho, Ham Yard’s bar and restaurant is an upmarket drinks destination if you’re looking to make a good impression.
I met some friends there for cocktails on a weekend and it was busy. The tables around us were tucking into high tea, but instead we were determinedly working our way through the cocktail list.
The cherry negroni was my favorite, but they were all good – quality drinks that had been made with thought and care.
Calm, sophisticated, and with a touch of class – it feels a long way from the bars of Soho that we’re normally accustomed to, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The post REVIEW: Ham Yard – Soho, London appeared first on Gay Star News.
Gareth Johnson
Join HRC and Freedom Massachusetts to Lobby for Transgender Equality in the Bay State
Freedom Massachusetts is organizing a Lobby Day on September 17
HRC.org
County Clerk Kim Davis Says This Isn’t “A Gay Or Lesbian Issue,” It’s About “Heaven or Hell”
I have worked in the Rowan County Clerk’s office for 27 years as a Deputy Clerk and was honored to be elected as the Clerk in November 2014, and took office in January 2015. I love my job and the people of Rowan County. I have never lived any place other than Rowan County. Some people have said I should resign, but I have done my job well. This year we are on track to generate a surplus for the county of $1.5 million.
In addition to my desire to serve the people of Rowan County, I owe my life to Jesus Christ who loves me and gave His life for me. Following the death of my godly mother-in-law over four years ago, I went to church to fulfill her dying wish. There I heard a message of grace and forgiveness and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I am not perfect. No one is. But I am forgiven and I love my Lord and must be obedient to Him and to the Word of God.
I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Our history is filled with accommodations for people’s religious freedom and conscience. I want to continue to perform my duties, but I also am requesting what our Founders envisioned – that conscience and religious freedom would be protected. That is all I am asking. I never sought to be in this position, and I would much rather not have been placed in this position. I have received death threats from people who do not know me. I harbor nothing against them. I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience.”
— Kim Davis, the notorious Kentucky county clerk who has steadfastly fought against the Supreme Court’s ruling and refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, in a statement released to the public today
Jeremy Kinser
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