This Wednesday, a man who was denied a marriage license by religious fanatic and straight-marriage proponent Kim Davis has announced that he’ll be running to take her seat as county clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky.
David Ermold made headlines along with Davis when he and his partner of 17-years, David Moore, sought out a marriage licenses from her office, only to be denied— a move that was in direct defiance of the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling on marriage equality. Footage of Ermold and his now-husband Davis Moore confronting Davis over the matter went viral across social media, launching the story to national prominence.
“This is how gay people are treated in this country, this is what it’s like, this is their experience, this is how it feels,” Ermold said in an emotional statement after Davis denied him and Moore a license for a second time in 2015.
Ermold and Moore were married on September 26, 2015 after one of Davis’ deputies issued them a marriage license.
Ermold was hesitant to throw his hat in the ring, citing the huge backing Davis has from evangelicals.
“She will have quite a few orgs backing her, and she will get a lot of attention from it,” he told ABC News. “I was very disappointed in the presidential election, and I think there needs to be more integrity,” he said. “I think politicians need to answer some questions.”
Just after his announcement, Ermold released a statement saying that communities need to get back to “embracing diversity.”
“We must recommit ourselves to embracing the diversity within our community, and we must stand strong against those who have turned their backs on our people to pursue the divisive agenda of outside politicians and organizations,” the statement read.
In 2015, David Ermold and his partner of 17-years were denied a marriage license by Kim Davis simply because they're gay. Here's Ermold this Wednesday sitting across from Davis filling out the paperwork to run against her for the seat of Rowan County Clerk. pic.twitter.com/HI0NnyOSMo
— Sky Palma (@DeadStateTweets) December 7, 2017
Ironically, Ermold filed the paperwork for his candidacy in the same office where Davis denied him his marriage license.
“I do believe in God,” Ermold said. “Just not her version.”
