Because every issue that causes real suffering to Americans — poverty, expensive healthcare, homelessness — has already been solved, a couple of Tennessee Republicans are focusing their attention on destroying the marriages of same-sex couples. Just like Jesus wanted.

State Sen. Mark Pody and State Rep. Jerry Sexton have filed HB 1369, known as the “Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act,” to force state officials to “defend natural marriage between one man and one woman regardless of any court decision to the contrary.”

The bill declares that the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling in favour of equal marriage “does not apply” in Tennessee, as the state’s constitution defines marriage as between one man and one woman. The proposed law also seeks to enforce the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman in Tennessee, prohibiting state government officials from recognising same-sex unions in any capacity. The bill also directs the state’s Attorney General to defend Tennessee law if there is any court battle on the issue — which campaigners say is a sign of the true motive behind the plan.

In theory, with five conservative justices on the Supreme Court, this bill, if it passes, would force the state to advocate against marriage equality. Until conservatives can overturn Roe v. Wade, I guess going after LGBTQ rights is the next best thing.

It’s not even the only bill intended to hurt LGBTQ people: Other bills under consideration would limit the rights of transgender people and make it legal for Christian business owners to discriminate against LGBTQ customers.

In other words, Tennessee Republicans will stop at nothing to make sure the people they hate are as miserable as they are.

(Image via Shutterstock)

