Tennessee passes bill allowing officials not to perform same-sex marriages

 By Ryan Foley - Posted at The Christian Post:

Published February 27, 2024

A new Tennessee law will allow public officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if their religious beliefs make them unable to do so in good conscience.

Tennessee's Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed into law House Bill 878 last Wednesday.

The Republican-controlled Tennessee Senate approved the bill in a 27-5 vote earlier this month after the House of Representatives passed the legislation in a 74-22 vote last year.

While the vote fell along party lines, one House Democrat joined all House Republicans in supporting the legislation.

The bill's text declares, "A person shall not be required to solemnize a marriage if the person has an objection to solemnizing the marriage based on the person's conscience or religious beliefs." The legislation amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 36-3-301, which outlines the requirements for solemnizing a marriage in the state.

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