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.

  • Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    It’s bad when private entities discriminate. It’s a million times worse when the government does.

    Edit: I did forget to mention though, being a bitch isn’t a protected class…sexual orientation is.

    • JuicyBrain@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      But she is a woman! How does your woke brain don’t go haywire knowing that a woman is a victim of sexism? Would you care if she was gay?

      • spongebue@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Discriminating against a woman isn’t sexism. Neither is discriminating against a man. Discriminating against anyone on the basis of their sex is sexism, and that’s not what’s happening here (unless the bank has hardly any women customers?)

        Source: know how to use brain in ways other than making half-baked ideas of what other people may be thinking.

      • Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Again, smooth brain, if she’s being discriminated against because she’s a woman (gender is protected) that’s bad. If she’s being discriminated against because she’s gay (orientation is protected also), that’s bad. If it’s because of skin color, disability, religion, or national origin…those are bad too.

        What a fucking gremlin.