The Amendment This is the proposed constitutional amendment that Tennessee voters will consider on November 7th, 2006:The historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one man and one woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state. Any policy or law or judicial interpretation, purporting to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one man and one woman, is contrary to the public policy of this state and shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee. If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry and if such marriage is prohibited in this state by the provisions of this section, then the marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state.Our goal is to ensure the proposed amendment is defeated.What it Means It will hurt Tennessee families The amendment would permanently deny equal marriage rights to Tennessee’s same-sex couples. Similar amendments in other states have been used to justify denial of domestic partner benefits at state institutions and agencies to heterosexual as well as same-sex couples. This amendment may be interpreted to have other unintended consequences for the citizens of Tennessee.To get to know loving, committed couples from around the state who will be hurt by the amendment, click here.The denial of marriage hurts loving and committed same-sex couples who live in every part of Tennessee. These couples have taken on the responsibilities of marriage, yet they are denied the critical legal protections that marriage provides. The proposed constitutional ban on marriage will make that denial of marriage permanent.Civil marriage extends over 1,000 rights and benefits under federal law and nearly 200 more under Tennessee law. These include basic things like being able to share health and retirement benefits and take bereavement leave in the case of a death in the family. Denying the important legal protections of marriage hurts families who live in every part of the state.If the amendment does not pass, gay and lesbian Tennesseans will have no more rights and privileges than they currently have. Gay and lesbian Tennesseans will not have the right to marry a same-sex partner under current Tennessee law.
People in support of voting no on on November 7For more information please visit www.votenotn.com.This information was taken from www.votenotn.comLeaders Against the Amendment There is broad gay and non-gay opposition to the constitutional ban on civil unions and marriage. Every month, as more people have the opportunity to learn about the dangers of the ban, that opposition grows.The following organizations and community leaders oppose the amendment. They have signed our “Don’t Amend†endorsement form, made public statements, or passed formal resolutions against the ban.The list is a work in progress. If we are missing public opinion leaders or organizations that would publicly oppose the amendment, please ask them to take a stand. We are creating lists of organizations, education groups, businesses, and political and community leaders who oppose the ban.PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE http://votenoon1tn.com/leaders.php to get your leaders to sign this. Thank you so much.Faith LeadersHoly Trinity Community Church-Memphis Jon Roberts of SDA Kinship Rev. Gail S. Seavey of First Unitarian Universalist Church Nashville Rev. Greg BullardCongregationsConvenant of the Cross—Nashville Holy Trinity Community Church--MemphisOrganizationsLog Cabin Republicans - Middle Tennessee Memphis Stonewall Democrats MGLCC's Initiative: Fairness - Memphis Mid-South Peace and Justice Center National Organization for Women - Nashville (Nashville NOW) National Organization for Women - Tennessee (TN-NOW) PFLAG - Memphis PFLAG Nashville SDA Kinship InternationalOtherAdult Medical Group, PLLC Memphis Chapter, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays(PFLAGMemphis) The Flypaper Theory Virginia (Ginger) Ralston of American Association of University Women; League of Women Voters
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Marriage Equality Matters Writing discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution hurts lesbian and gay families denying them the right to make a legally recognized commitment to love and family. Love does not discriminate. Why should marriage? Writing discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution hurts the children of lesbian and gay families denying them rights such as insurance coverage, social security, and inheritance rights. Writing discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution hurts marriage. Denying two loving partners the right to publicly and legally profess that love before family and friends damages the institution of marriage. Writing discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution hurts lesbian and gay families by denying them rights such as making emergency medical decisions or shared health and retirement benefits Writing discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution is not necessary to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples. A law defining marriage already exists. Voting No will not make gay marriage legal; it will only keep unequal treatment out of the Constitution. Writing discrimination into Tennessee Constitution jeopardizes the right of civil unions between same sex couples. Adding discrimination sets a dangerous precedent that it is constitutional to treat lesbian and gay couples unequally. Writing discrimination into the Tennessee Constitution affects people you know and love. This is not about someone on television or elsewhere in the media. This affects your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, neighbors, church members, colleagues and friends.
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