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Tennessee now allows public officials to refuse to solemnize a marriage for any reason, after Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday signed into law a bill that critics say could make the state more hostile toward LGBTQ+ residents. House Bill 878, which went into effect immediately, states simply that "a person shall not be required to solemnize a marriage." Critics say the law will allow local and state officials to discriminate against same-sex couples as well as interracial and interfaith couples. Under Tennessee state code, wedding ceremonies must be "solemnized"...

Chaplains, notaries public, judges and others who don't want to perform a marriage ceremony in Tennessee don't have to under a law signed by Gov. Bill Lee. Proponents said that law, signed Wednesday, codified what had always been assumed — and that among other benefits, it allowed those authorized to solemnize a marriage to decide if they want to do so without fear of being sued. But to LGBTQ+ activists, the law has discriminatory potential, while other critics said it was a waste of time or courted a lawsuit. In...

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new law Wednesday that will allow public officials in the state to refuse to perform marriages if doing so goes against their beliefs. The measure, HB 878, is less than half a page-long and simply states that public officials “shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.” Those who can newly refuse include judges, county clerks and government officials. The law went into effect immediately on Wednesday. Critics have said that the measure was crafted with the intention of allowing government officials to refuse...

The bill passed in the House but was deferred in the Senate for around a year. Opponents of the bill said it would allow county clerks to refuse LGBTQ+ marriages. Example video title will go here for this video Example video title will go here for this video NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill that passed the state House during the 2023 regular General Assembly, but was deferred in the Senate for around a year, was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee on Wednesday. HB 0878 was introduced by Rep....

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) has signed a bill that states individuals “shall not be required to solemnize a marriage” if they object based on their “conscience or religious beliefs.” The language of H.B. 878 focuses on “solemnization” – the act of performing a wedding ceremony. The list of people who can legally solemnize a marriage under Tennessee law includes all religious leaders, judges, county clerks, notary publics, and other mayors and legislative members. LGBTQ+ advocates believe the legislation is designed to give these officials the right to discriminate against...

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed a measure on Wednesday allowing public officials to decline conducting same-sex marriages, reported The Hill. The Tennessee Legislature last week passed Tennessee House Bill 878, which permits individuals to abstain from officiating a marriage if it conflicts with their "conscience or religious beliefs." The governor endorsed the bill, according to the Tennessee Legislature website. The bill does not empower officials to deny marriage licenses based on their convictions but exempts them from the obligation to solemnize a marriage.

Tennessee GOP Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday signed legislation permitting public officials cite conscientious or religious objections as grounds to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage. The bill does not ban same-sex marriages nor does it give officials the authority to reject marriage licenses to same-sex couples, The Hill reported.

State lawmakers approved Tennessee House Bill 878 last week. The legislation states people “shall not be required to solemnize a marriage” if they refuse to doing so based on their “conscience or religious beliefs.” According to the Tennessee Legislature website, the governor signed the bill Wednesday. Lee has not publicly commented on the bill yet per his social media and his office’s website. The bill does not allow officials to deny marriage licenses to couples based on their beliefs but prevents officials from being required to solemnize a marriage. The...

Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed a bill Wednesday that allows people in the state to refuse to “solemnize,” or perform, a marriage if they disagree with it. Last week, Tennessee state lawmakers passed HB 878, which states “a person shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.” In Tennessee, only certain people can “solemnize” the “rite of matrimony,” including state notary publics, government officials, and religious figures, according to state code. According to Tennessee Code Title 36, which sets out the state’s rules on marriages and license requirements, “before...

Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed a bill Wednesday that allows people in the state to refuse to “solemnize,” or perform, a marriage if they disagree with it. Last week, Tennessee state lawmakers passed HB 878, which states “a person shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.” In Tennessee, only certain people can “solemnize” the “rite of matrimony,” including state notary publics, government officials, and religious figures, according to state code. According to Tennessee Code Title 36, which sets out the state’s rules on marriages and license requirements, “before...