You are not a hero. You are not a martyr. Using Gods word to discriminate simply makes you a coward. You are using the Bible to spew hate and intolerance, a book that was written to share love and mercy. The United States was formed as a result of abuse deliver by tyrannical leadership. The Declaration of Independence was penned to deliver a very specific point;
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
The Declaration clearly covers your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It gives you the right to attend your church, worship your God, work your job, and raise your family. The Constitution that was created as a result of this Declaration is a living, breathing amendable document. It has grown and changed with the times and trials of this country. It has given birth to freedoms that were discussed in these documents, yet not acknowledged at that time.
This Constitution that covers your ability to openly and safely pray to God, gave birth to Women’s Suffrage, Brown Vs. the Board of Education and the Civil Right Act of 1964. This Constitution has delivered justice and freedom to those who because of prejudice and discrimination remained chained and silent long after the institution of this piece of paper.
Kim Davis, I urge you to read up on the subject of discrimination. Take some time and study the subject of American History. A history that is deeply rooted in religious freedom.
The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
~Kim, the First Amendment does not give you the right to discriminate against someone based on your religious beliefs. It gives you the right to practice your beliefs, not impose them illegally on others.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States, that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public
~Kim, you do not get to choose who is equal and who deserves respect and justice under the law, including individuals who come to the clerk’s office, a government facility that serves the public.
The Fourteenth Amendment: The Equal Protection Clause is part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The clause, which took effect in 1868, provides that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction “the equal protection of the laws.”
~Kim, You do not get to use your position as a clerk to discriminate against anyone seeking anything that they legally have the right to obtain, including a marriage license.
Obergefell v. Hodges: Landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held in a 5–4 decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
~Kim, it is over. The law is in the books. The Supreme court has upheld the verdict and your discrimination will not prevail.
So while you sit in that jail cell, I ask you to think. Think about your words, your actions, and your inability to obey the law. Sit and think about how your God would feel about the hate, judgment, and discrimination that you have passed on people who clearly have the legal right to marry. Perhaps next time you are required to issue a marriage license, you should hold your objections, and instead invite them to church. Perhaps offer some love on their wedding day, in lieu of hate.
