GOP Rep. suggests new form of marriage: excludes gay couples but allows kids
HB 233. He says the aim of the bill is to “give an alternative form of marriage for those pastors and other individuals who have a conscientious objection to the current pathway to marriage in our law.”HB 233 legislates over “common-law” marriage.
It would allow a man and a woman to go to a county clerk and simply declare that they’re in a “common law marriage.”Leatherwood conceded, according to WJHL, “There is not an explicit age limit” mentioned in the bill.It would also require the state’s attorney general to defend any local leader or the state if they decided to deny a marriage license to a same-sex couple.Related: “I told you so”: Liz Cheney’s gay sister responds to her u-turn on same-sex marriageThe bill passed the Tennessee House’s Children and Family Affairs subcommittee on Monday.
It is due to be debated in the House Civil Justice Committee today.At the moment, people can get married in Tennessee at 17 if they have parental consent.
It only became illegal for minors to marry in 2018.At an earlier debate in late March, Leatherwood was explicitly asked by Democratic Rep.
