Did tennessee ban gay marriage

This includes canceling more than US$125 million in federal grants related to LGBTQ+ health programs and stopping the enforcement of the Equal Access Rule, a federal policy that ensured access to federal housing programs regardless of gender identity.

In turn, this has emboldened Republican lawmakers to target same-sex marriage and other protections for the LGBTQ+ community.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v.

For example, Tennessee passed a law in 2024 that prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors, and adults who help them access such care can face civil penalties. These bills aim to allow public officials to refuse to solemnize same-sex marriages, citing personal beliefs or religious grounds, potentially denying LGBTQ+ couples their marriage rights.

The state has also enacted laws that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in other areas.

Timing of attacks

Efforts by state Republican lawmakers to revisit same-sex marriage bans are part of a broaderassault on LGBTQ+ rights taking place in the U.S.

The timing of these efforts is primarily driven by two factors: Donald Trump’s second term as president and the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Hodges decision.

Another significant case, Tanco v.

They claim that it only provides an alternative form of marriage for those with religious objections to the current legal definition of marriage.

The law itself is brief, stating that a person "shall not be required to solemnize a marriage" without specifying the grounds for refusal. Tennessee introduced a bill banning "adult show performances" where minors are present, effectively banning drag shows and any performances by transgender individuals in public spaces.

This law has been challenged in court, with the U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights organizations arguing that it is unconstitutional. Tennessee now issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples under the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples. Additionally, the bill would require the Tennessee Attorney General to defend the state's law on marriage in any subsequent legal challenges.

The "Natural Marriage Defense Act" has been widely criticized and opposed by LGBTQ+ rights groups and their allies.

For a state such as Michigan, whose constitutional language defining marriage as between one man and one woman is still on the books, the status quo would revert immediately to outlawing same-sex marriage – it wouldn’t require any legislative vote. Currently, about 70% ofAmericans approve of legally recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples, a 10-percentage-point bump from 2015.

Obergefell led to an increase in marriages among same-sex partners, with more than 700,000 same-sex couples currently married.

Despite this, Republican lawmakers in five states have recently introduced symbolic bills calling on the Supreme Court to overturn its ruling in Obergefell.

Republican lawmakers have repeatedly tried to pass bills that would effectively end same-sex marriage in Tennessee, despite the fundamental right to marry guaranteed by the Supreme Court decision. Although Thomas’ concurring opinion does not have the force of law, it nonetheless sent what some court observers say is a clear message to opponents of same-sex marriage that at least one justice has an appetite for reconsidering Obergefell.

Reaffirm or overrule?

Should the Supreme Court agree to hear a challenge to Obergefell, one of two main outcomes is likely.

Fritz was asked if he knows of any occurrences where it’s happened, and he said he doesn’t know of it happening at all.

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If successful, these efforts would be a dramatic blow to the progress made toward LGBTQ+ equality over the past two decades.