Two anti-LGBTQ bills are making their way through the Tennessee state legislature that would challenge U.S. Supreme Court decisions that legalized same-sex marriage and established protections for discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
One of the bills declares private businesses “need not” recognize same-sex marriage.
From Nashville Public Radio station WPLN:
Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, questioned the legality to going against Bostock v. Clayton County, which established that LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“We’re talking about federal law that supersedes state law,” Johnson said. “You can’t just ignore the federal law. So, therein is the problem for those of us who believe in our U.S. Constitution.”
Tom Lee, member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Pride Chamber, spoke against the bill, arguing that it could allow discrimination against LGBTQ couples.
“Imagine if under this bill a private employer said, ‘Well, you can’t take family leave because I, as a private citizen, don’t recognize — using the language of the bill — your purported marriage,’” Lee said. “Or a bank says, ‘You’ll pay the higher rate (for unmarried couples). We’re not bound by the 14th Amendment. You’re not married in our eyes.’”
Both bills advanced Wednesday along party lines. Read more here.
Related: ‘Slate Of Hate’ Anti-LGBTQ Legislation Moves Along In Tennessee
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