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.

  • STOMPYI@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    If you live in this shit states the most important thing you can do in your whole life is leave.

    • IzzyScissor@kbin.social
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      8 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.

          • drphungky@lemmy.world
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            8 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.

  • Suavevillain@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    GOP continue to be pieces of trash. I really wish the party would just die off, but Trumpism gave them a bolder fascist to believe in.

      • BigMacHole@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Agreed! Refusing to service customers based on their Sexual Orientation is EXACTLY like refusing to service customers who use your service to threaten to bomb Elementary Schools and Children’s Hospitals!

    • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      The people are friendly during the day, the food tastes good, the natural beauty is something else, and if your car breaks down chances are someone young will fix it for free someone old will give you a ride into town plus most of them have a 3rd worlder work ethic that allows them to build in temperatures that should kill you.

      At the same time southern rage is a real plus scary thing and none of them are that far from lynching.

      • JamesFire@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        and if your car breaks down chances are someone young will fix it for free someone old will give you a ride into town

        If you pass as white.

  • FontMasterFlex@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Wait… aren’t you people the same one’s telling everyone they can’t tell you what to do with your body, but here you want to demand someone give up their choice? If one person refuses, move on to the next. A lot of you don’t understand the word freedom, or hypocrite.

    • Squirrel@thelemmy.club
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      8 months ago

      Nobody should have the right to infringe upon others’ rights. Look up the paradox of tolerance.

    • maniajack@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Let’s say it’s my religion that I think you should not be allowed to drive because I don’t like you. Now let’s say I work at the DMV and you walk up, should I be allowed to deny you a license because it’s my religion?

          • FontMasterFlex@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Did you read the article? it’s not the clerk that this relates to it’s the officiant. so first of all your example it total bullshit stickman argument. Second, anyone with an internet connection can become ‘ordained’ and eligible to be an officiant in a wedding. I know this because I have done it myself, and my coworker sitting next to me does this OFTEN. Third there is no “gotcha” here. You’re simply mad because people are being given freedom to choose.