Tag Archives: Tennessee

Brainerd Baptist Church Senior Pastor Robby Gallaty this week delivered in a sermon in which he told his parishioners not to repent for hating gay people because God wants to put us all to death anyway. Dave Edwards reports at Raw Story: After spending about 20 minutes recounting the perils of homosexuality throughout history, Gallaty asserted that the cities of …

“I believe that all people should be treated fairly and equally and that their individual dignity should be respected. Embracing and celebrating our growing diversity makes our city stronger. Nashville needs to continue in that direction, and it’s my hope that joining this effort will help us do that.” – Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, joining Mayors For The Freedom To …

A coalition of anti-gay groups will hold a convention in Nashville to plot the next stages of their opposition to same-sex marriage. The ERLC National Conference will address “The Gospel, Homosexuality, and the Future of Marriage” to equip Christians to apply the gospel on these issues with convictional kindness in their communities, their families and their churches. This event will …

Clip recap: Major news in Virginia this week, where the Fourth Circuit has refused to delay marriage equality for any longer. Now anti-gay defendants have asked the US Supreme Court to step in at the last minute. A judge in Tennessee has upheld that state’s marriage ban, on the basis of outdated arguments regarding procreation. And over a dozen couples …

“It is refreshing to find a judge who is willing to apply the federal constitution as it is and not reinterpret the constitution so as to redefine marriage. Judge Russell Simmons is exactly correct when he says that there is nothing about the US Supreme Court’s Windsor decision that would invalidate the right of Tennessee voters to define marriage as …

Via Lyle Dennison at SCOTUSblog: For the first time in nearly fourteen months, a state’s ban on same-sex marriage has withstood a constitutional challenge in court. A state judge in Tennessee ruled last week that “neither the Federal Government nor another state should be allowed to dictate to Tennessee what has traditionally been a state’s responsibility.” The decision, issued last …

Clip recap: There’s been some action in western states this week. Wisconsin organizers have formed a new group called Wisconsin Unites for Marriage. Their goal is public education while also persuading Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen to drop his defense of the state’s marriage ban. A federal judge ruled against Wisconsin’s law in June, and oral argument in an …

And some actually excellent news out of Tennessee. Viciously anti-gay GOP state Sen. Stacey Campfield was trounced yesterday in his reelection bid. With all precincts reporting, Richard Briggs had 13,977 votes, or 66 percent, compared with Campfield’s 5,824 votes, or 28 percent. The primary was expected to be tough for Campfield, a highly visible lawmaker who often drew attention and …

Some good news out of Tennessee. Victoria Jackson, the former “Saturday Night Live” cast member who has made a name for herself as an active tea party participant, conservative activist and outspoken opponent of President Barack Obama, has lost her bid to win a spot on the Williamson County Commission. Jackson received 632 votes, losing out to Judy Lynch Herbert, …

Via Chattanooga television: The Domestic Partnership ordinance loses in Chattanooga. With 100% of the vote reported: Against the Ordinance – 13685, For the Ordinance – 8184. Last year the Chattanooga City Council voted to allow the partners of city employees in domestic partnerships to get equal benefits. But the measure was forced to a public vote, and it appears the …

Here’s the Family Research Council’s prayer of the day: Circuit Court to Decide on Marriage in Four States – A three judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals in Cincinnati heard cases today that challenge traditional marriage amendments in four state Constitutions: Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. Each of the Amendments, duly passed by a majority of …

The New York Times reports: In three hours of back-and-forth questioning, it appeared that neither side could take victory for granted in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where the cases from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee were heard by two judges appointed by President George W. Bush and one by President Bill Clinton. Judge Jeffrey …

“Unfortunately, conservatives aren’t just fighting the courts for their right to decide the issue — they’re also fighting a massive PR push from deep-pocketed activists who are desperate to normalize same-sex ‘marriage.’ Their campaign is hitting a fever pitch in places like Missouri, where groups like Show Me Marriage are doing their best to bring voters’ beliefs in line with …

Audio files of the arguments for all four states have now been posted.  Dig in and give us your thoughts.

The above reporter also notes that Daughtrey said: “What harm comes? It doesn’t look like the sky has fallen in other cases.” Listen to the first hour of today’s hearing at this link and let us know your thoughts. UPDATE: Freedom To Marry has posted a copy of the Michigan arguments linked above.

Today’s marriage hearings in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will begin at 1PM local time. Streaming audio of the proceedings will be posted here shortly after things wrap up. The Louisville Courier recaps today’s “pretty conservative” panel of judges: The three appellate judges who will consider the fate of gay marriage bans in Kentucky and three other states include …

“The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati will be hearing arguments on efforts to strike down laws against ‘same-sex marriage’ in four states, including Ohio. The law in our state was a constitutional amendment strongly supported by Ohio’s bishops in 2004, and for good reason. Traditional marriage, the union of one man and one woman for life, is …