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   ISSUES  > Family and Marriage
 
Tennessee  
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State Information

Government Website: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/government/index.html

Outline of State Law
Current Status of Law Concerning Marriage and Date of Passage 1996 - State Law Passed  2006 - Constitutional Amendment 
State Law Prohibits/Voids Same Sex/Same Gender Marriage no  yes 
State Law Defines Marriage between a Man and a Woman yes  yes 
State Law Denies Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages Solemnized in Other States yes  yes 
State Law States that Same Sex Marriage is not Aligned with State Public Policy yes  yes 
State Law Defines "Spouse" as Referring Only to a Person of the Opposite Sex Who is Married as Husband or Wife no  no 

Statutory Provision

Tennessee Code 36-3-113. Marriage between one man and one woman only legally recognized marital contract

(a) Tennessee's marriage licensing laws reinforce, carry forward, and make explicit the long-standing public policy of this state to recognize the family as essential to social and economic order and the common good and as the fundamental building block of our society. To that end, it is further the public policy of this state that the historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state in order to provide the unique and exclusive rights and privileges to marriage.

(b) The legal union in matrimony of only one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be the only recognized marriage in this state.

(c) Any policy, law or judicial interpretation that purports to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one (1) man and one (1) woman is contrary to the public policy of Tennessee.

(d) If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry which marriages are prohibited in this state, any such marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state.

Constitutional Provision

Tennessee Const., Art. XI, §18.

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.

U.S. Senators
US Senators and their Comments on FMA

Lamar Alexander, Republican
http://alexander.senate.gov/index.html
This senator was elected in 2002, therefore not present for the federal DOMA In 1996. The senator voted for the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004 and 2006.

Bob Corker, Republican
http://corker.senate.gov/
This senator voted for the federal DOMA in 1996 and for the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004 and 2006.



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