By Charlie L’Strange for VForVadge

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“She loves God, she loves people, she loves her work, and she will not betray any of those three,”

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These are the words used to describe Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. She was recently released from jail after serving only six days in jail. She after her release, she was greeted by a number of supporters who held up white crosses and cheered as she stood on stage. The issue with this scene is that many people, Christian or otherwise who support folks like Kim Davis forget the real issue. It is not that she doesn’t believe that same-sex couples should have the right to marry that is the issue, but that she, as an employee of the state of Kentucky has not done what she is paid and has sworn to do. Regardless of her religious beliefs, her jobs is one that is meant to serve the people of Kentucky. Her job, that she has agreed to do to the best of her ability is to issue marriage licenses to those who, by law, have the right to marry in the state of Kentucky. Please do not misunderstand me, she also has complete right to have her own set of beliefs and to practice her religion. She is a person and has that right as does everyone. But when you voluntarily choose to be a part of an institution that may change its rules, you have one of two choices, go with the flow or quit. Her choices are very much Black and White.

For those of you who may disagree, think of it as the current state of affairs in the Black Lives Matter Movement. The issue isn’t simply about the war on black bodies, but also that police officers of all colors and creeds are NOT doing their jobs as it has been described and are abusing the power that they are given by the very people they are meant to serve. “To serve and protect”, there are no other words that follow that statement because they are to serve and protect the public and the people of the city and state. For Ms. Davis to be described as someone who “loves the people and her work” is a direct contradiction to her actions. Loving people means all people as there hasn’t been any specifications. Loving her work also hasn’t set any specifications as well. This should also remind folks of when a number of immigrants went through the same issue of state workers refusing to issue official documents because they did not want immigrants to have the same rights as other folks.

Lets be clear, your belief systems have no real place in the workplace. When you agree to do a job that requires you to serve the people and general public, you have a duty to do just that. If at any point you feel incapable of upholding those standards, you are equally free to dismiss yourself from the position. It is very wrong that Ms. Davis may be allowed to regain her position as a clerk as it seems like she feels as though, from the response to her release, that she is doing the work of God. Unfortunately for her and many other, this is not the truth and if more people like her are allowed to “serve the people” and claim that her actions are due to her “love of God”, we are in deeper trouble than many of us care to admit.

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This is Charlie.

OVER & OUT.