Kim Davis reflects on her role in same-sex marriage debate

Ordered by the judge who released her not to interfere with the Kentucky licenses issued by other clerks, Davis altered the license forms, creating some contention over whether they were legal.

When Kim first refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, she claimed she was breaking the law because providing those documents goes against her religion.

In an interview with The Associated Press about her year at the center of one of the biggest social changes in decades, Davis described it as “a very emotional and a very real situation to all people”.

“It’s never been mine or anyone else’s intentions as far as I’m concerned to deny anybody a right that they feel that they have – but it has always been my intention that mine are not denied in the process”, said Casey Davis.

Her jailing drew worldwide attention and demonstrations from both sides of the issue.

She spent five days in jail after a federal judge held her in contempt of court.

Her actions inspired praise and derision across the country as they tested the limits of the court’s ruling.

“I don’t see how the governor on his own can eliminate the clerks’ names from these forms”, said Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins.

“Gov. Bevin’s executive action has added to the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over marriage licensing in Kentucky”, Legal Director William Sharp said in a statement. Beshear had refused, arguing only the state legislature had the authority to change the state law requiring the contents of the marriage license form.

He concludes: “The ACLU continues to work with loving couples who hold marriage licenses of questionable validity and for those who are waiting to legalize their unions until this is resolved”. Critics of Davis, like columnist and LGBT rights advocate Dan Savage, say that her behavior makes her anti-gay actions that much harder to swallow.

Davis will be up for re-election in two years and insists she’s not sure if she will run again. “Some political analysts say the case helped motivate religious conservatives to turn out to vote for him”. Others reversed earlier orders by former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear on restoring voting rights to felons and a higher minimum wage for state employees and state vendors.