Tennessee lawmakers accidentally proposed a bill that would eliminate age requirements for marriage and thereby legalize child brides.
After severe backlash, the sponsors of the legislation added an amendment that stipulates that marriage can only occur once both parties have “attained the age of majority,” which is 18 in Tennessee.
But critics say the bill in question is still explicitly tailored to discriminate against the LGBT community. The Tennessean explains:
The bill would create an alternate pathway to marriage, allowing opposite-sex couples to file marriage “contracts,” based on common law principles that have not yet been legally recognized in Tennessee. The contracts would not be available to same-sex couples.
The outlet adds:
The Family Action Council of Tennessee, a conservative advocacy organization led by former state Sen. David Fowler, has pushed for the bill. In committee testimony this spring, Fowler said a separate marriage certificate is needed for people who have conscientious objections to same-sex marriage but need legal documentation of their union.
“As a minister, I can’t sign and affirm something that is contrary to my conscience,” Fowler said.
Tennessee marriage certificates do not require a minister’s signature, and opponents of the bill say it’s a solution in search of a problem “that doesn’t exist.”
Regina Lambert Hillman, a University of Memphis law professor, told The Tennessean that the bill was part of the backlash against the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage.
“It’s this continuation of the backlash over the Obergefell decision,” Hillman said. “The sky didn’t fall. We have all kinds of married couples in our state that are working, raising families, paying taxes just like our straight counterparts.”
“I understand change is difficult, and there are folks that don’t like the Obergefell decision,” Hillman added. “But I don’t have to agree with everyone who gets a marriage certificate as long as they meet the state requirements.”
The Tennessee Senate will vote on the bill on Thursday and the state House will consider it next week.
