The Tennessee House of Representatives
on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a resolution expressing
disagreement with the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on marriage
equality.
In Obergefell v. Hodges, the
high court ruled that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional
right to marry.
House members voted 73-18 in favor of a
resolution that criticizes the decision.
Republican Rep. Susan Lynn introduced
the measure.
“They can't decree that we now have
to marry same-sex couples,” Lynn told The
Tennessean. “Our law does not say that, it's never said
that, and it was never the intent of the General Assembly to do
that.”
On the House floor, Lynn said the
decision set a “dangerous” precedent: “If we let them do this
today, they will do it more in the future. We need to speak up as a
legislature.”
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the
nation's largest LGBT rights advocate, criticized the move.
“Though only symbolic, this shameful
vote to encourage defiance of the highest court in the land is a slap
in the face to loving and committed same-sex couples all over the
Volunteer State,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow.
“Lawmakers should be using their time and resources to help all
families, but instead have prioritized a mean-spirited resolution
that serves absolutely no legitimate purpose.”