Tennessee marriage nullification bill fails in committee
A proposed bill in Tennessee that would have allowed state and local officials in the Volunteer State to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages or the Supreme Court’s decision that made them legally valid was defeated after it failed to gain traction in a House subcommittee on Wednesday.
The bill, known as the Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act, received a hearing before the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday. But legislators rejected the bill, with some saying it was not the right way to challenge the Supreme Court’s decision allowing same-sex marriages, and others citing the cost of passing the bill. According to the bill’s fiscal note, had the legislation passed, it could have cost Tennessee more than $8.5 billion in federal funds for the state’s food assistance and TennCare health insurance programs.
The bill is one of more than 100 anti-LGBT measures being considered in 24 different states, many challenging the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize marriage equality. Additionally, several Tennessee counties, at the urging of right-wing groups such as the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT), have adopted resolutions calling upon the Tennessee General Assembly to pass a nullification bill, in hope of inspiring other states to follow suit.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), which advocated for the defeat of the Natural Marriage Defense Act, issued a joint statement commending the subcommittee for stopping the bill from advancing to a floor vote.
“As the first vote this year on the nearly 100 anti-LGBT bills being considered across 24 states, this is certainly encouraging news from Tennessee,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for HRC. “We will remain vigilant in case this legislation should resurface in any other form, and continue to work with our local partners to fight other anti-LGBT legislation in the Tennessee Legislature.”
The Tennessee Equality Project thanked the members of the subcommittee for a “thorough discussion” of the bill and its potential ramifications.
“We are grateful that this bill will not be moving this session and remain watchful of any attempts to discriminate against LGBT Tennesseans,” said Chris Sanders, TEP’s executive director.
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