Kim Davis was just another U.S. official serving as County Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky until 2015, when her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite federal court order caught his international attention. In a series of ensuing media events, Davis was sent to jail but was released 5 days later. She has since resumed a normal life. However, recent developments in her life and career continue to grab headlines as the media can’t seem to get enough of her.
Biography of Kim Davis
Kimberly Jean Davis (née Bailey) was born on September 17, 1965, in Jackson, Kentucky. His mother is Jean W. Bailey who served as Rowan County Clerk for 37 years. Outside of this period, Kim served as Deputy Registrar, reporting to her mother from 1991 to 2015. After her mother withdrew, Kim ran for election to replace her mother. She won 53% of the total vote and took office on January 5, 2015.
However, months after taking on her new role, Davis found herself in the midst of unwanted media attention after refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it violated her Christian faith.
This came shortly after the Supreme Court in July 2015 ruled Obergefell v. Hodges directing all county clerks in Kentucky to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In order not to attach his name to the license issued to same-sex couples, Kim Davis stopped issuing a marriage license.
However, this was not suitable for gays and four of them filed and won a lawsuit against Davis. Davis was again ordered to begin issuing a marriage license, but she did not back down so easily. Subsequently, she was sent to prison for contempt.
Following the court’s decision to jail Davis, a protest erupted in support of him while others continued to criticize his actions. Her husband Joe Davis was among the main protesters and claimed his wife was prepared to remain in jail until the state agreed to remove her name from gay marriage licenses.
During the 5 days she spent behind bars, her subordinates were ordered to start 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 her return to office, Davis amended the marriage license to exclude her name.
Kim Davis had been a Democrat since 19991, however, after the controversy, she switched ships to the Republican Party. Many conservatives were in favor of his decision, including former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. Huckabee was by his side after his release from prison (pictured above).
Kim Davis has used her fame to pursue other causes, including encouraging legislation in other countries to pass legislation against same-sex marriage.
7 Lesser Known Facts About The County Clerk
As a result of this incidence, Americans and the world at large became interested in knowing more about Kim Davis. Here are 7 facts you might not know about the county clerk.
1. Davis met Pope Francis a few weeks after his release from prison. The meeting sparked controversy after the Vatican later noted that the meeting was not a sign of the Pope’s support for his actions.
2. Kim hasn’t always been a Christian and only converted in 2011 following her mother-in-law’s dying vow to go to church. She loves the Solid Rock Apostolic Church in Morehead, Kentucky.
3. Kim Davis has been married four times. A fact that her opponents were quick to use against her, pointing out how much 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 children. 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. After this divorce, Kim remarried Joe Davis in 2009.
Davis’ seemingly promiscuous lifestyle was before her conversion to Christianity in 2011.
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4. As deputy county clerk, Davis in 2011 earned $51,812 in salaries and an additional $11,301 in overtime and other compensation. After becoming a clerk in 2015, her annual salary alone reached $80,000.
5. Serving the nation seems to be a thing in the Davis family. Her son, Nathan like her with her own mother, works under her as an assistant clerk. Nathan is also not a supporter of same-sex marriage.
6. Kim Davis published her first book, a memoir titled “Under God’s Authority” in February 2018 under the direction of 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 marriage license to.