ACLU-TN Applauds Tennessee’s Swift Implementation of Marriage Ruling

NASHVILLE – The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee applauds Governor Bill Haslam and Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III for moving swiftly to ensure that county clerks’ offices and state departments are enforcing the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Governor Haslam issued a statement today affirming that the state of Tennessee will comply with the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell and ensure that state departments are able to do so as quickly as possible. Attorney General Slatery issued a directive to county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses immediately.

ACLU-TN sent a letter to county clerks and attorneys across the state today regarding the organization’s expectation that marriage licenses will be issued to same-sex couples immediately upon request.

Any same-sex couples who are denied a marriage license are encouraged to contact ACLU-TN at https://action.aclu.org/secure/tn-marriage-licenses.

The following can be attributed to Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee:

“We applaud the governor and the attorney general for ensuring that government offices in Tennessee implement the Supreme Court’s ruling swiftly. Committed, same-sex couples in Tennessee have waited long enough to enjoy the dignity and protections of marriage. Today’s ruling and its prompt implementation will bring great joy to the thousands of Tennessee families who just want to be treated with the same respect and dignity as everyone else.”