Defiant Kentucky clerk returns to work, promises not to interfere with gay marriage licenses

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis made a statement on her return to work Monday morning outside the county Judicial Center in Morehead, Ky. Video by PBS NewsHour

Kim Davis, the defiant Kentucky clerk who was jailed for refusing to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples, returned to work Monday morning.

In a teary statement, Rowan County Clerk Davis said she would not interfere if her deputies issued licenses, but maintained her objection to authorize them.

“I don’t want to have this conflict. I don’t want to be in the spotlight. And I certainly don’t want to be a whipping post,” Davis said, joined by Rowan County Sheriff’s deputies and her son, Nathan. “I am no hero. I’m just a person that’s been transformed by the grace of God, who wants to work, be with my family. I just want to serve my neighbors quietly without violating my conscience.”

Davis also questioned the validity of the licenses if they didn’t have her name or title on them, a claim Davis’ attorneys have pushed. But Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said the licenses were legal without Davis’ authorization.

On Friday, Davis’ attorneys sought an appeal to delay issuing the licenses.

Davis stopped issuing the licenses to gay couples since the Supreme Court’s ruling in June to legalize same-sex marriage. A 49-year-old Apostolic Christian, Davis was held in contempt of court and ordered to jail for five days. While their boss was jailed, deputies issued seven licenses to gay couples.