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Kentucky Clerk THROWN IN JAIL For Refusing To Issue Gay Marriage Licenses

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Casey Harper Contributor
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The Kentucky clerk who has refused to issue gay marriage licenses was jailed Thursday for contempt of court charges.

U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning put Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis in custody of the U.S. Marshals until she agrees to obey court orders saying she must issue marriage licenses to gay couples, USA Today reports.

Gay marriage supporters gathered outside the courthouse changed “Love won!” after the decision.

Davis has refused citing her religious faith, saying she cannot sign a document endorsing same-sex marriage. Several couples who were denied marriage licenses teamed up with the ACLU, which sought the charges.

The judge said the oath Davis took when taking the job supersedes her beliefs.

“Her good faith belief is simply not a viable defense,” Bunning said.

The U.S. Supreme Court late Monday denied Davis’ emergency request that she not have to issue marriage licenses while awaiting appeal. Despite multiple court rulings she has still refused, leading the ACLU to request she be held in contempt of court.

While the ACLU requested she only receive fines, the judge opted for jail.

“To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience,” Davis said in a statement earlier this week. “It is not a light issue for me. It is a heaven or hell decision.”

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