Politicians in one US state plan to go back on same-sex marriage
Politicians in one US state are planning to introduce legislation to avoid allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Legislators in Nashville have convened this year’s session, and several anti-gay bills are being monitored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
One bill, called the ‘Natural Marriage Defense Act’, or ‘HB 1412’, seeks to rid Tennessee gays of their right to marry.
It intends to revoke Tennessee’s obligation to allow same-sex couples to marry following a ruling by the US Supreme Court last year legalising same-sex marriage in all 50 US states.
In addition, it is the taxpayers in the state who would foot the bill to re-litigate marriage equality.
The bill is to be heard in the House Civil Justice subcommittee on 20 January.
Tennessee could lose a large amount of federal funding, according to a Fiscal Note related to HB 1412.
A report by the HRC reads: “The outrageous legislation in Tennessee is part of an onslaught of anti-LGBT bills being pushed in 2016 by anti-equality activists around the country. Earlier this month, HRC released new analysis previewing the state and local legislative battles in the year ahead, including anti-LGBT bills likely to be considered in at least 27 states.”
A separate proposed resolution is being considered in Washington County, Tennessee, which also seeks to move against the Supreme Court’s ruling for marriage equality.
