Her conduct may be illegal and hurtful. But it is not harmful.

I want the law to make that distinction. And if the law doesn’t, because a crime is a crime is a crime, I think those of us who recognize the difference should lead the way and argue that making the distinction serves the cause of justice.

A lust for vengeance deprived Kim Davis of her freedom rapidly and comprehensively. And no, her refusal to recognize gay marriage rights is not nearly as offensive as what was done to her. Her clerk issued the marriage licenses she refused to issue. The context matters, as does the actual harm done by her to gay people, which, really, isn’t that much.

What made me steaming mad was the delight expressed by many of my own fellow travelers at her imprisonment. We bathed in the glory of her personal life, too. That’s offensive. Her personal life has no relevance at all to the issue at hand. And no, she did not invite such scrutiny by taking a public stand against gay marriage. All that matters is her conduct in office.