Tennessee Governor Rolls Back Marriage Equality in Just Once Sentence [View all]

[Nevilledog]

https://newrepublic.com/post/179253/tennessee-gop-governor-bill-lee-signs-law-same-sex-marriage-rights-equality?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SF_TNR&utm_medium=social

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https://archive.li/f8MLv

Tennessee has passed a law that, despite being just one sentence long, completely annihilates marriage equality in the state.

Republican Governor Bill Lee signed House Bill 878 into law on Wednesday. The measure simply states, “A person shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.”

This means that any government official can refuse to certify a marriage license for any reason whatsoever. Current Tennessee law states that before a marriage is legally recognized, the couple must have their marriage license solemnized by a “minister or officer.” Marriages can be solemnized by religious leaders or government officials including judges, notaries public, and elected officials.

The new law does not affect anyone’s ability to obtain a marriage license. Republican state Senator Mark Pody, who sponsored the measure in the state Senate, argued last month that the bill was not discriminatory because people can still get marriage licenses.

*snip*