New Tennessee law allows officials to refuse to perform LGBTQ marriages
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new law that will allow public officials in the state to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if doing so goes against their beliefs.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new law Wednesday that will allow public officials in the state to refuse to perform marriages if doing so goes against their beliefs.
The measure, HB 878, is less than half a page-long and simply states that public officials “shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.” Those who can newly refuse include judges, county clerks and government officials. The law went into effect immediately on Wednesday.
Critics have said that the measure was crafted with the intention of allowing government officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages. Religious figures in the state have previously been permitted to refuse to marry same-sex couples.
An original draft of the legislation, which was introduced last year, stated that a person would be allowed to refuse to perform a marriage “based on the person’s conscience or religious beliefs.” The version of the law Lee signed does not specify under what criteria a person can decide whether to agree or refuse to marry someone.
Representatives for Lee and state Sen. Mark Pody, the lead Republican co-sponsor of the legislation in Tennessee’s Senate, did not immediately return requests for comment. Republican state Rep. Monty Fritts, the lead co-sponsor of the legislation in the state’s House, could not be reached for comment.
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