Two Kentucky Clerks Stand in Solidarity With Kim Davis

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear
Governor of Kentucky Steve Beshear at the Fancy Farm picnic in Fancy Farm, Kentucky. |

Kim Davis-- county clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky-- who has been given jail time for her refusal to issue marriage licenses is not alone in her opposition.

Two other clerks in Kentucky, Kay Schartz of Whitley County and Casey Davis of Casey County, have refused to issue marriage licenses since the Supreme Court ruling in June that legalized same-sex marriage across the nation. Neither have faced lawsuits for their refusal.

"She's standing for God like she think she should and I think she should. I don't think a person should be threatened to be fined or threatened to go to jail because they're Christian," Casey, who has no relation to Kim Davis, told the Guardian in defense of his colleague.

Casey is using his vacation time to embark on a 440-mile trip on his bicycle, from Pikeville to Paducah "to show support to [Kim Davis] and to raise awareness of what's going on with this woman," he said in a phone interview, according to the Guardian.

Casey is calling for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear to call a special session to discuss a bill that would exempt clerks from the process of officiating a marriage.

"Regardless of whatever their personal feelings might be, 117 of our 120 county clerks are following the law and carrying out their duty to issue marriage licenses regardless of gender," Beshear said in a statement, who dismissed the need to address the issue.