Sponsor of Anti-Gay Marriage Bill Is Undaunted by $8.5B Cost

The Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act was described by activists as a way to reassert the state’s 2006 constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

“Whereas, not all orders claiming authority under color of law are in fact lawful”, the bill reads. “Any court decision purporting to strike down natural marriage, including [Obergefell v. Hodges], is unauthoritative, void, and of no effect”. If passed into law, the measure was expected to be quickly stricken down by the courts.

“The Supreme Court of the United States has unequivocally settled the issue once and for all by making clear that loving and committed same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry”, said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow.

No state-level legislation has ever successfully managed to “nullify” U.S. Supreme Court precedent nor has a state level legal battle refusing to honor contracts from other states prevailed. “It is binding over all the globe in all countries, and at all times; no human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this”.

Carter joined with other members of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee to defeat the proposal on a voice vote. Supporters and opponents alike also stood in an overflow area to learn of the results.

Republican state Reps. Matthew Hill and Micah Van Huss have praised the resolutions and said they will support action on the state level that keeps traditional marriage in place and allows state, county and city workers to opt out of performing same-sex marriages or issuing licenses on religious grounds.

Pody reportedly rebuffed a “fiscal note” put together by legislative fiscal analysts that estimate the state could lose $8.5 billion in federal funds if it tried to ban gay marriage.

Chris Sanders of Tennessee Equality Project, a statewide LGBT civil rights group, added, “We are grateful that this bill will not be moving this session and remain watchful of any attempts to discriminate against LGBT Tennesseans”. Though this bill will not be passed, a number of similar proposals against the legalization of same-sex marriage are also trying to challenge the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“We’re only upholding what we’ve already voted on”, Pody said.

But Pody and Beavers state that they are not going to give up. Here’s a little sample: WHEREAS, The Constitution of Tennessee, Article XI, § 18, states the following: The historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one man and one woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state.