Public officials in Tennessee can now refuse to grant a marriage license to anyone at their own discretion, for any reason.

Public officials in Tennessee can now refuse to grant a marriage license to anyone at their own discretion, for any reason.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed into law House Bill 878 on Wednesday, which took effect immediately. The bill — just a few sentences in length — only states that “a person shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.” Only state notary publics, government officials, and religious figures can “solemnize” a marriage in Tennessee, according to state code.

None of the sponsors behind the bill have been made public statements on its introduction or passage, nor have they given comment to media organizations. The only known remarks regarding the law from state Rep. Monty Fritts (take a guess), who sponsored it in the House, are from February of last year, when he spoke to the state Subcommittee on Children and Family Affairs.

    • IzzyScissor
      17•4 months ago

      As someone who did, I understand the sentiment but it isn’t that easy. I have so many friends and family members who are stuck there because they can’t save enough resources to leave.

      • @afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
        1•4 months ago

        People are like marching through the American Southwest desert into a country actively trying to stop them which speaks a totally different language and with children and they can’t move within their native country?

        I did it. I grew up in deep Appalachia. Packed a backpack and went on a bus. That is no where near the difficulty level an illegal faces.

        • IzzyScissor
          12•4 months ago

          Yeah… almost like they’re stuck in a cycle of poverty and can’t save enough money for a down payment for a house either.

          So ‘funny’.

        • @PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
          8•4 months ago

          Almost as if moving across the country is expensive, and they can’t save up enough to front the cost. Hell, moving in general is expensive, but doubly so when you’re uprooting your entire life.

          • drphungkyEnglish
            -5•4 months ago

            The idea being you can get an hourly job and an apartment just about anywhere. The only real expense is moving your shit. Most everything else is time.

            Edit: Jesus Christ this place is cancer sometimes. Imagine being downvoted for explaining someone else’s point because people don’t agree with it. Just reddit with angrier voices.

              • @andros_rex@lemmy.world
                4•4 months ago

                Okay, I live in a shit hole state, and want out. The certification process for my career (teaching) costs money - I will likely have to pay money for a background check as well as the certification paperwork. I can’t work as a teacher because I am transgender in Oklahoma (it was safe five years ago, it is no longer). So I am doing gig work.

                Is the solution really buy to drive in a random direction and hope for the best? I already have severe PTSD from needing to do sex work to survive in college, the idea of being in even more dire financial straits is the kind of thing that makes me shake. Do I need to find a weekly hotel while I try to find a job that’ll help me secure an apartment? I’m struggling with doing that here so the idea of trying to just make it work somewhere else doesn’t seem likely.

                “Just move” is not helpful advice on these threads. I’m trying. The things that make me need to move are also the things that make it difficult for me to move.

                • @DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe
                  2•4 months ago

                  I’m sorry to hear that. What’s your plan? I’m in Tennessee myself and planning on Colorado or Ireland.

                  I’m going to see how 2024 goes to decide whether I need a new state or a new republic.

                  • @andros_rex@lemmy.world
                    3•4 months ago

                    #1 wait for my bf to graduate and move to Illinois

                    #2 try to get a job teaching in China? I doubt China is that much better as far as LGBT rights, but as a laogai I’m probably novel and white enough to not be bothered.

                    #3 kill myself when Kevin Shitt signs an executive order banning adult HRT, or get murdered by a cop for not having the twig and berries that corresponds to the “M” on my drivers license.