Kim Davis was just another American civil servant performing her duties as the county clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky until 2015 when her refusal to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples despite the federal court’s order gained her international attention. In a series of media buzzing events that followed, Davis was sent to jail but was released 5 days later. She has since returned to living her normal life. However recent developments in her life and career continue to make the news as the media can’t seem to get enough of her.
Kim Davis Biography
Kimberly Jean Davis (nee Bailey) was born on September 17, 1965, in Jackson, Kentucky. Her mother is Jean W. Bailey who served as the Rowan county clerk for 37 years. Out of that time period, Kim served as the deputy clerk, reporting to her mom from 1991 – 2015. After her mother retired, Kim ran for elections to replace her mom. She won 53% of the total votes and assumed the office of the county clerk on January 5, 2015.
However, months after assuming her new role, Davis found herself in the midst of unwanted media attention after she refused to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples as it violated her Christian faith.
This came shortly after the Supreme Court in July 2015 decided Obergefell v. Hodges ordering all county clerks in Kentucky to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In order not to get her name attached to license issued to same-sex couples, Kim Davis stopped issuing any marriage license at all.
However, this didn’t sit well with gay people and four of them filed and won a lawsuit against Davis. Davis was again ordered to start issuing marriage licenses but she wasn’t backing out so easily. Subsequently, she was sent to jail for contempt.
Following the court’s decision to jail Davis, protests erupted for her support while others continued to criticize her actions. Her husband Joe Davis was among the top protester and affirmed that his wife was willing to remain in jail until the state agrees to take her name off the gay marriage licenses.
During the 5 days she spent behind bars, her subordinates, were ordered to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay people. She was released on the 5th day under the conditions that she would not interfere with her deputies. Upon returning to the office, Davis modified the marriage license excluding her name.
Kim Davis had been a Democrat, since 19991, however, after the controversy she switched boats to the Republican party. Many conservatives were in favor of her decision including former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. Huckabee was by her side after she was released from jail (pictured above).
Kim Davis has used her fame to pursue other causes especially encouraging the legislation of other nations to adopt legislation against same-sex marriage.
7 Lesser Known Facts About The County Clerk
In the wake of the incident, Americans and the world at large became interested in knowing more about Kim Davis. Here are 7 facts you may not have known about the county clerk.
1. Davis met with Pope Francis a few weeks after her release from jail. The meeting sparked controversies after the Vatican later noted that the meeting wasn’t a sign of the Pope’s support for her actions.
2. Kim had not always been a Christian and only converted in 2011 following her mother-in-law’s dying wish that she attends church. She worships with Solid Rock Apostolic Church in Morehead, Kentucky.
3. Kim Davis has been married four times. A fact that her opponents have been quick to use against her stressing how it violates the Christian faith. Her first marriage was to Dwain Allen Wallace from 1984 to 1994. With him, she had two daughters. She then married Joe Davis in 1996 and divorced in 2006. Their marriage produced no kids. However, Joe Davis adopted the twins (a boy and a girl) she had with Thomas Dale McIntyre Jr. whom she would later marry in 2007 and divorce in 2008. Following that divorce, Kim remarried Joe Davis in 2009.
Davis’ seemingly promiscuous lifestyle was before she converted to Christianity in 2011.
4. As deputy county clerk, Davis in 2011 earned $51,812 in wages and an additional $11,301 in overtime and other compensation. After becoming the clerk in 2015, her annual salary alone upped to $80,000.
5. Serving the nation seems to be a thing in Davis’ family. Her son, Nathan like herself with her own mother, is working under her as a deputy clerk. Nathan is also a non-supporter of same-sex marriage.
6. Kim Davis released her first book, a memoir titled “Under God’s Authority” in February 2018 under Florida-based organization Liberty Counsel.
7. She began campaigning for re-election as county clerk in 2018 as the only Republican candidate. Among the opposition, Democrats vying for the seat to replace her was David Ermold, one of the gay men she denied a marriage license.
