The US county clerk sent to jail in Kentucky for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples praised God and thanked her supporters Tuesday after a judge ordered her release.
Kim Davis, a born-again Christian, was jailed last week for contempt of court after refusing to issue licenses due to her opposition to same-sex marriage, which the Supreme Court legalized across the United States in June.
The 49-year-old Davis -- who has argued that she should be exempt from following the law because of her religious beliefs -- has become a heroine for millions of Americans, and rekindled a thorny debate about gay marriage.
Davis was overcome with emotion as she climbed onto a flatbed truck to address the large crowd of supporters gathered outside the Kentucky jail to greet her, the sound of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" drowning out their cheers.
"I just want to give God the glory," she said, after thanking those at the rally.
"We serve a living God who knows exactly where each and every one of us is at. Just keep on pressing. Don't let down because he is here. He's worthy."
Supporters waved white crosses and signs declaring "Religious Freedom" and "Courts Don't Make Laws."
The federal judge who ordered Davis held on contempt charges ruled that she could be released because five of the six deputy clerks in Rowan County "stated under oath that they would comply with the Court's Order and issue marriage certificates to all legally eligible couples."
Davis was ordered not to "interfere in any way, directly or indirectly" with the issuance of marriage certificates, Judge David Bunning wrote, warning of "appropriate sanctions" should she do so.
- Politicians cash in-
Republican presidential hopefuls have jumped on the Davis bandwagon, capitalizing on the image of an outspoken Christian woman heading to jail as evidence for their claims that people opposed to gay marriage are suffering religious persecution.
Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister and former governor of the southern state of Arkansas, walked out of the jail with Davis following her release. Rival Ted Cruz also met with Davis and her husband but did not speak at the rally organized by Huckabee.
"I know there are some people who will say this is a rally of hate. They would be wrong," Huckabee told the crowd.
"We gather here today because we love God and we love this great country."
Bunning had previously said Davis could be released from jail as soon as she agreed to issue marriage licenses to anyone who qualifies, as her position requires, or resigned from her government job.
But her intentions about her job remain somewhat unclear.
"Kim Davis will not violate her conscience," lawyer Mathew Staver said.
"She cannot allow her name to be associated with something that conflicts with God's definition of marriage."
She also has no intention of resigning, he told the crowd.
Rowan County handed out its first certificate to a same-sex couple on Friday. The license was altered so that "Rowan County" rather than "Kim Davis" appeared on the line reserved for the name of the clerk.
Those licenses are not legally valid, her lawyer said.
He proposed a "simple accommodation" -- that the court or the state legislature alter marriage licenses so they are no longer issued with the name or under the authority of county clerks.
- 'God's authority' -
Davis stopped issuing all marriage certificates in mid-August following the Supreme Court's landmark June 26 ruling legalizing gay marriage.
The elected public servant with long hair and a preference for skirts down to her ankles is not the only one to have taken such a position.
But the Apostolic Christian has become a symbol for the fight in the United States between liberals and conservatives and between First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and other laws.
A number of gay couples -- often surrounded by journalists -- tried to obtain marriage licenses from Davis in recent weeks. They were all rejected.
"We are not issuing marriage licenses today," Davis says in one video of a confrontation posted online.
When asked under whose authority, Davis responds calmly: "Under God's authority."
Critics have accused her of bigotry and hypocrisy, saying she has been divorced three times, and is married for a fourth time.
The US county clerk sent to jail in Kentucky for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples praised God and thanked her supporters Tuesday after a judge ordered her release.
Kim Davis, a born-again Christian, was jailed last week for contempt of court after refusing to issue licenses due to her opposition to same-sex marriage, which the Supreme Court legalized across the United States in June.
The 49-year-old Davis — who has argued that she should be exempt from following the law because of her religious beliefs — has become a heroine for millions of Americans, and rekindled a thorny debate about gay marriage.
Davis was overcome with emotion as she climbed onto a flatbed truck to address the large crowd of supporters gathered outside the Kentucky jail to greet her, the sound of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” drowning out their cheers.
“I just want to give God the glory,” she said, after thanking those at the rally.
“We serve a living God who knows exactly where each and every one of us is at. Just keep on pressing. Don’t let down because he is here. He’s worthy.”
Supporters waved white crosses and signs declaring “Religious Freedom” and “Courts Don’t Make Laws.”
The federal judge who ordered Davis held on contempt charges ruled that she could be released because five of the six deputy clerks in Rowan County “stated under oath that they would comply with the Court’s Order and issue marriage certificates to all legally eligible couples.”
Davis was ordered not to “interfere in any way, directly or indirectly” with the issuance of marriage certificates, Judge David Bunning wrote, warning of “appropriate sanctions” should she do so.
– Politicians cash in-
Republican presidential hopefuls have jumped on the Davis bandwagon, capitalizing on the image of an outspoken Christian woman heading to jail as evidence for their claims that people opposed to gay marriage are suffering religious persecution.
Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister and former governor of the southern state of Arkansas, walked out of the jail with Davis following her release. Rival Ted Cruz also met with Davis and her husband but did not speak at the rally organized by Huckabee.
“I know there are some people who will say this is a rally of hate. They would be wrong,” Huckabee told the crowd.
“We gather here today because we love God and we love this great country.”
Bunning had previously said Davis could be released from jail as soon as she agreed to issue marriage licenses to anyone who qualifies, as her position requires, or resigned from her government job.
But her intentions about her job remain somewhat unclear.
“Kim Davis will not violate her conscience,” lawyer Mathew Staver said.
“She cannot allow her name to be associated with something that conflicts with God’s definition of marriage.”
She also has no intention of resigning, he told the crowd.
Rowan County handed out its first certificate to a same-sex couple on Friday. The license was altered so that “Rowan County” rather than “Kim Davis” appeared on the line reserved for the name of the clerk.
Those licenses are not legally valid, her lawyer said.
He proposed a “simple accommodation” — that the court or the state legislature alter marriage licenses so they are no longer issued with the name or under the authority of county clerks.
– ‘God’s authority’ –
Davis stopped issuing all marriage certificates in mid-August following the Supreme Court’s landmark June 26 ruling legalizing gay marriage.
The elected public servant with long hair and a preference for skirts down to her ankles is not the only one to have taken such a position.
But the Apostolic Christian has become a symbol for the fight in the United States between liberals and conservatives and between First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and other laws.
A number of gay couples — often surrounded by journalists — tried to obtain marriage licenses from Davis in recent weeks. They were all rejected.
“We are not issuing marriage licenses today,” Davis says in one video of a confrontation posted online.
When asked under whose authority, Davis responds calmly: “Under God’s authority.”
Critics have accused her of bigotry and hypocrisy, saying she has been divorced three times, and is married for a fourth time.
