Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee ® signed a bill Wednesday allowing public officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages.

State lawmakers approved Tennessee House Bill 878 last week. The legislation states people “shall not be required to solemnize a marriage” if they refuse to doing so based on their “conscience or religious beliefs.” According to the Tennessee Legislature website, the governor signed the bill Wednesday.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    212
    ·
    9 months ago

    Sounds like a good reason for queer people to start getting jobs as county clerks in Tennessee so they can refuse to solemnize cishet marriages based on their conscience or religious beliefs.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      39
      ·
      edit-2
      9 months ago

      You don’t have to leave out Jews just because they aren’t the Nazis from Germany.

      After all… “Jews will not replace us.” Something said by those very nice people on one of the both sides.

      (Muslims too, don’t mean to leave you folks out, you’re also victims of the Republican hate machine.)

  • Pulptastic@midwest.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    46
    ·
    edit-2
    9 months ago

    Didn’t this already get knocked down in another state?

    Edit: Kim Davis in Kentucky tried this and failed.

    • tacosplease@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      19
      ·
      9 months ago

      And is now fined over $100k for her bullshit LOL. Who’s going to be the next idiot to throw their life savings away?

      • OneOrTheOtherDontAskMe@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        9 months ago

        Life savings? Governor? No sir, that was a couple years’ savings at most (I assume. Most politicians like that might not be paid EXTREME amounts for their public office, but their speaking engagements and stock portfolios are no joke)

            • HopeOfTheGunblade@kbin.social
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              4
              ·
              9 months ago

              Nah, see, when politicians pass laws like this and cost the state massive amounts of time and money fighting over it in court, fuck-all happens to them. When a random state employee decides on her own one day, “fuck them queers” and acts on it, she gets consequences. Or at least, she used to. Goddess knows what to expect here going forward.

  • clif@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    37
    ·
    9 months ago

    It’s pretty easy to get registered to perform weddings in TN… And many other states.

    Universal life Church is well known online ordination “place” that has been accepted with zero scrutiny in two other states by me and in TN by a friend.

    I’ll just leave this info here, do with it what you will.

  • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    34
    ·
    9 months ago

    What a great opportunity for the Supreme Court to uphold this law and then cry about how nobody thinks they’re credible anymore.

  • swiftcasty@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    25
    ·
    9 months ago

    Solemnizing a marriage = officiating
    People can already refuse to officiate weddings, this bill is symbolic posturing

  • Birdie@thelemmy.club
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    edit-2
    9 months ago

    We don’t care 'bout no constitution. We gon discriminate when and where we want, and you’d best not come after OurPreciousSecondAmendment, neither.

    But seriously, they can’t refuse to issue marriage permits, right?

  • HorreC@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    9 months ago

    If I was a state over I would be on top of this, never wanted to work in the government but this seems like a reason to stick my spanner in the works. They would be salty the times when I just dont feel like giving anyone a marriage, and I have a moral objection to… rich men marrying younger females, ganna have to stick to my guns on that one too.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      22
      ·
      9 months ago

      I can see all kinds of things to object to based on my conscience if I moved to Tennessee and got a job giving out marriage licenses!

      Not enough sexual partners to know firmly if you two are sexually compatible? Sorry, I’m going to have to object, on my conscience, to giving you a marriage license.

      There’s an age gap of more than four years between you? Sorry, I’m going to have to object, on my conscience, to giving you a marriage license.

      One or both of you already have children? Sorry, I’m going to have to object, on my conscience, to giving you a marriage license.

      You don’t have the same blood type? Sorry, I’m going to have to object, on my conscience, to giving you a marriage license.

      Neither of you speak Swedish? Sorry, I’m going to have to object, on my conscience, to giving you a marriage license.

      You’re white and Christian? Sorry, I’m going to have to object, on my conscience, to giving you a marriage license.

  • blackstampede@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    9 months ago

    If you’re that worried about it, then make it a form that people can fill out themselves. While we’re at it, roll marriage agreements into contract law and remove the two-person cap.