'Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act' seeks to strip gay marriage rights

[workinclasszero]

The Republican bill looks to “defend” marriage as “between one man and one woman regardless of any court decision to the contrary.”

By Gwen Aviles Feb. 12, 2019, 10:18 AM CST

Nearly four years after the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal throughout the U.S., Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are attempting to turn back the clock with a bill aimed at banning gay marriage in the state.

The “Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act,” which was first proposed in 2016, seeks to “defend natural marriage between one man and one woman regardless of any court decision to the contrary.” The bill, which was reintroduced on Friday, would deem the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges “unauthoritative, void, and of no effect.”

Introduced by Sen. Mark Pody and Rep. Jerry Sexton, both Republicans, the bill also prohibits government officials from facilitating same-sex marriages, and states that these officials cannot be arrested for disavowing court orders that recognize such unions.

Pody told NBC News that the Supreme Court “overstepped its authority” with the Obergefell decision. He claimed marriage is “a state issue, not a federal issue,” and therefore, he added, the 2015 ruling is “unconstitutional” and should be rectified.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/tennessee-natural-marriage-defense-act-seeks-strip-gay-marriage-rights-n970596

[MineralMan]

1. That bill is dead on constitutional grounds. It won't pass.

When it comes to individual civil rights, federal law trumps state law, every time. That's quite clear. No state can pass a law that imposes inequality on its citizens if that equality is named in federal law or in SCOTUS decisions. Such a bill, even if it passed, would fail its first test in Federal Court.

[workinclasszero]

2. That's what I figure too

I would think the voters in Tennessee would be angry at their legislators for wasting time and money on a settled issue like this.

[MineralMan]

3. Many bills like that get introduced every year in state legislatures.

They're just campaign material. Some state legislator wants to let his/her constituents know that he's an ignorant jerk, just like they are. So, he or she introduces some unconstitutional bill, which dies in committee. Still, the legislator can refer to that bill for years to prove what a moron he or she is to the voters.

[roamer65]

4. If they pass it into law, time to cut federal money to TN.

TN is a taker, not a giver.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. marriage is unnatural

Marriage is a legal construct, not a condition of nature.

At what point in its natural lifespan does a human animal grow this marriage appendage? What does it look like? Does it improve the health of the animal if it is excised?

Keep stoking those flames of ignorance, lawmakers. Eventually, even the suckers will figure you out.