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Tennessee Introduces Bill to Protect Natural Marriage

Writer's picture: Anais HawkinsAnais Hawkins


If you need the political example of a hater you need look no further than the great state of Tennessee.


The bill HB 892, otherwise known as the Natural Marriage Defense act has appeared - again. First introduced in 2016, the bill was dismissed in the house due to a potential 8.5 Billion dollar cost due to lack of federal funding should it succeed according to Fox news.The bill has re-appeared however, thanks to its original creators Rep. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) and Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet).


If passed, the bill will cause a world of problems for the LGBT community. HB 892 would see only the marriage of one man and one woman as the rightful and natural marriage in the state despite any other court decision, which means the Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage means absolutely nothing. And neither do any other objections.


In fact, according to Rewire.news:

The bill would allow the speaker of the house of representatives and the speaker of the senate to employ legal counsel to defend the constitutionality of the law in the event the attorney general and reporter decline to defend this provision or any other law prohibiting the recognition of marriage other than “natural” marriage.
The bill would prohibit any state or local agency or official from giving force or effect to any court order that has the effect of violating Tennessee’s laws protecting “natural” marriage.
Additionally, the bill would prohibit any state or local agency or official from levying upon the property or arresting the person of any government official or individual who does not comply with any unlawful court order regarding “natural” marriage.

To put it into simpler terms only heterosexual marriages will be recognized. If the bill were to be passed, no judge or official can do anything that would let allow anything that the state considers "natural" marriage. Any marriage licences other that than a man and woman would be immediately void as well (Redwire.com). The bill itself states specifically,


"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. Any policy or law or judicial interpretation, purporting to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one man and one woman, is contrary to the public policy of this state and shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee. If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry and if such marriage is prohibited in this state by the provisions of this section, then the marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state.” HB 892


According to the Huffington Post, a press conference will be held next Thursday about introducing the bill to legislation. Should it pass, the bill will go into effect immediately. When speaking on the bill in 2015 Republican Pody said,


" I believe I’m supposed to be speaking to the unsaved, to the people that are performing same-sex marriages, to the people involved in same-sex marriage, it is wicked, it is wrong and I am doing the best I can to warn them.”

Research is still being conducted as to when Mr. Pody is supposed to be thanked.


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