Three Tennessee counties are debating
resolutions calling for an override of the Supreme Court's June
finding that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to
marry.
Four counties – Sullivan, Greene,
Johnson and McMinn – have already approved similar resolutions to
those being considered by Hawkins, Carter and Unicoi counties, the
Johnson
City Press reported.
Christian conservative group the Family
Action Council of Tennessee is pushing counties to approve the
resolutions.
The non-binding resolutions ask the
Tennessee General Assembly to uphold the state's constitutional
amendment which excludes gay couples from marrying and to ignore the
high court's “lawless” decision in Obergefell v. Hodges as
“a binding precedent for any parties other than those involved”
in the case.
Counties are considering two versions
of the resolution, one of which is described as “more
constitutionally sound” by its authors.
Unicoi County Commissioner Glenn White
said that the resolution was the first step toward calling for a
constitutional convention to override the Supreme Court on the issue.
(Related: TN
Republican wants state to stop issuing marriage licenses: God didn't
create Adam & Winston.)