Tennessee bill lets businesses and people refuse to recognize same-sex marriages

"On Thursday, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed House Bill 1473, a measure that asserts private citizens and organizations in the state are not bound by the Fourteenth Amendment or by the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges when it comes to recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples. The bill also shields people from professional discipline if they refuse to officiate or celebrate weddings or commitment ceremonies that fall outside Tennessee's statutory definition of marriage."

"The bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Gino Bulso, cleared the House on a 68-24 vote after advancing through committee largely along party lines. Its supporters describe it as a defense of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Its critics see a state legislature asserting, in effect, that constitutional law is optional in private life and that the legal status of same-sex marriages can be quietly downgraded without formally overturning Obergefell."

""Attacking the recognition of people's marriages is one of the worst ways for the Tennessee House to spend its time," the group said. "This bill sows fear about the very protections that give families security, and it fails to address real problems in our state like emergency preparedness and the affordability crisis.""

House Bill 1473 passed the Tennessee House and declares that private citizens and organizations are not bound by the Fourteenth Amendment or the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell decision when recognizing same-sex marriages. The measure shields individuals from professional discipline for refusing to officiate or celebrate weddings or commitment ceremonies outside Tennessee’s statutory marriage definition. Sponsored by Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, the bill cleared the House on a 68-24 vote after advancing through committee largely along party lines. Supporters frame the bill as protecting religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Critics and LGBTQ+ advocates warn it undermines constitutional protections and sows fear while ignoring other state priorities.

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