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.

  • andros_rex@lemmy.world
    4·
    8 months ago

    Okay, I live in a shit hole state, and want out. The certification process for my career (teaching) costs money - I will likely have to pay money for a background check as well as the certification paperwork. I can’t work as a teacher because I am transgender in Oklahoma (it was safe five years ago, it is no longer). So I am doing gig work.

    Is the solution really buy to drive in a random direction and hope for the best? I already have severe PTSD from needing to do sex work to survive in college, the idea of being in even more dire financial straits is the kind of thing that makes me shake. Do I need to find a weekly hotel while I try to find a job that’ll help me secure an apartment? I’m struggling with doing that here so the idea of trying to just make it work somewhere else doesn’t seem likely.

    “Just move” is not helpful advice on these threads. I’m trying. The things that make me need to move are also the things that make it difficult for me to move.

    • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe
      2·
      8 months ago

      I’m sorry to hear that. What’s your plan? I’m in Tennessee myself and planning on Colorado or Ireland.

      I’m going to see how 2024 goes to decide whether I need a new state or a new republic.

      • andros_rex@lemmy.world
        3·
        8 months ago

        #1 wait for my bf to graduate and move to Illinois

        #2 try to get a job teaching in China? I doubt China is that much better as far as LGBT rights, but as a laogai I’m probably novel and white enough to not be bothered.

        #3 kill myself when Kevin Shitt signs an executive order banning adult HRT, or get murdered by a cop for not having the twig and berries that corresponds to the “M” on my drivers license.