Post by pavel on Jan 19, 2016 16:43:21 GMT -6
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee lawmaker whose bill would bar the state from following the U.S. Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling says he is undeterred by a projected loss of $8.5 billion in federal funds if the proposal becomes law.
State Rep. Mark Pody said at a state Capitol rally on Tuesday that the proposal he has dubbed the "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act" is worth any cost — and the Republican from the Nashville suburb of Lebanon disputed the estimated loss of federal funds.
"The right to who we are is at stake," Pody said.
He cited a 2006 amendment to the state constitution that defined marriage as being only between a man and a woman and declared that any judicial interpretation to the contrary "shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee."
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/726504c2f02043df86d1e70ed2a88373/sponsor-anti-gay-marriage-bill-undaunted-85b-cost
State Rep. Mark Pody said at a state Capitol rally on Tuesday that the proposal he has dubbed the "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act" is worth any cost — and the Republican from the Nashville suburb of Lebanon disputed the estimated loss of federal funds.
"The right to who we are is at stake," Pody said.
He cited a 2006 amendment to the state constitution that defined marriage as being only between a man and a woman and declared that any judicial interpretation to the contrary "shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee."
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/726504c2f02043df86d1e70ed2a88373/sponsor-anti-gay-marriage-bill-undaunted-85b-cost