IA Radio Host Steve Deace Calls Kentucky Clerk Refusing To Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses “A Modern-Day Rosa Parks”

Iowa based radio host Steve Deace said Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis is comparable to civil rights icon Rosa Parks because, like Parks, who famously refused to give up her bus seat for a white person, Davis is refusing to obey a Supreme Court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Deace, an influential, nationally syndicated radio personality popular with Christian conservatives, tweeted the comparison between Davis and Parks on September 2 while promoting his afternoon radio show. The host, who has endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for president, also took to Facebook to criticize GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina for calling on Davis to do her job and issue marriage licenses to all couples who apply.

Deace's last show at USA Radio Network will air September 17 after the host said the station was “no longer able to meet the requirements of growing/managing” his show. USA Radio Network did not respond to Media Matters' request for comment about the split between Deace and the network.