Collegedale, Tennessee was founded as the home for Southern Adventist University and has a huge Seventh-day Adventist population.

The school is so religious, in fact, that it actually observes the Sabbath (as Adventists do). This is from the student handbook (PDF):

That’s why it’s a bit surprising (and amazing) that Collegedale just became the first city in Tennessee to extend benefits to same-sex partners of its government employees:

“It looks like we are condoning same-sex marriage,” said resident Dolly Fillman. “I know they said that wasn’t what they were doing, but it looks like it to me.” For Collegedale Detective Kat Cooper, the new policy means relief. Her wife can finally have insurance coverage. “It is such a huge weight off our shoulders,” she said. “We don’t have to constantly worry about health expenses or sudden emergencies. It’s hard to explain how much this means to us.” … Four on the five-member commission voted to accept the new policy. Before he cast his supporting vote, Commissioner Larry Hanson said, “You don’t know how lucky we are to get to vote on this.”

Some of the Christians who attended the city commissioners’ meeting spoke in favor of the policy, saying that it’s “just plain fairness.”

How great is that? A town overrun by religion somehow found the good sense to do the right thing.

(Thanks to Alex for the link! Alex added: “They not only saw the light they saw the rainbow.”)



