A Kentucky clerk has been sentenced to jail time after refusing to approve gay marriage licenses. Kim Davis is a Rowan County clerk who believes issuing marriage licenses to gay couples would play on her conscience.
Davis and her deputy clerks were summoned by the U.S. District Judge, David Bunning, after she repeatedly denied issuing numerous marriage licenses.
In June the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. At that point Davis stopped issuing licenses.
Reportedly, the couples who sued Davis asked for the judge to merely fine her, not send her to jail. However, Judge Banning advised he did not believe Davis would comply with whatever he ordered so jail time seemed necessary. Without handcuffs, she was escorted by a deputy out of the courtroom where she was met by federal marshals. Earlier that week, Davis said she never believed this day would come.
According to Associated Press, hundred of people outside the courthouse screamed, "Love won."
Davis' testimony consisted of her religious history - telling the courtroom how she became a Christian and how she could not believe anything else. Her testimony was 20 minutes long. "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," she said in a statement.
April Miller, one of the women trying to obtain a license, testified against Davis. Miller said she voted Davis into her position and was only trying to receive a marriage license not trying to change Davis's religion.
Davis also had a band of supporters outside the courtroom who sang hymns and held signs that read "turn to Jesus or burn." A airplane also flew overhead with a banner that read "Stand Firm Kim."
Davis worked in the office 27 years as her mother's deputy was elected as a Democrat to take her mother's position in November.
Davis was elected to office and can only be removed by the state legislature, who can impeach her. Associated Press, states that looks unlikely in a state that is predominantly conservative.