We all thought (or hoped) that Kim Davis was old news, but with a new motion from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kentucky filed this Monday, the homophobic county clerk is back in the spotlight.
Last year Kim Davis became infamous for her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses, but after some much-deserved time in jail and then later some guest speaking for conservative presidential hopefuls like Ted Cruz, Davis eventually faded from the Nation’s interest. Now however, the Kentucky ACLU hopes to hold Davis accountable for her actions.
$233,058 is the cost that Davis will hopefully have to pay for her homophobia. Now, Davis herself won’t be expected to pay this fine entirely, should the motion pass in court, but it will be the duty of Rowan County, the unfortunate place where she resides.
This motion requests compensation for the legal fees incurred during its earlier lawsuit against Davis on behalf of four couples.
While these fees were certainly a large expense for the advocacy group, William Sharp, the Legal Director the Kentucky ACLU hope to achieve much more than just compensation with their motion. In a press release Sharp explained that the ACLU hopes “to send a message to government officials that willful violations of individuals’ rights will be costly”.
The ACLU’s original lawsuit against Davis was ultimately rendered moot, as the Kentucky Legislature passed a bill that stopped requiring a County Clerk’s signature on marriage licenses. While the lawsuit did end up being undone, it did win a preliminary injunction in court, which ““is sufficient to confer prevailing party status,” the ACLU argued in its court brief. This status means that the plaintiffs have the right to be compensated for the legal fees from the case.
While Rowan County may not have been the person that committed this crime, this motion will be a needed reminder to both Kim Davis, and the world, that LGBTQ rights are here to stay, and will not be violated any longer.
(Photo Credit: Timothy D. Easley / AP)
