Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>I urge you to vote NO on House Bill 315 on Tuesday in the Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee. The bill started as a Covenant Marriage option for man/woman couples.  If the subcommittee adopts the sponsor's amendment, then marriage licenses would be available for "the male and female contracting parties" starting on July 1, 2026.</p> <p>That contradicts the 2015 Obergefell Supreme Court decision which requires the State of Tennessee to license the marriages of same-sex couples. It will create harm to couples seeking marriage licenses, and expensive litigation will result. On November 10, 2025, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis. This will not end well for Tennessee.</p> <p>Thank you for considering my views.</p>