Lambda Legal: Tennessee

Tennessee

Statewide Relationship Recognition
no	Licenses marriages for same-sex couples.
no	Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions.
no	Relationship recognition for same-sex couples: None.

1996 Anti-marriage bill adopted. Senate Bill 2305 — Introduced by Sen. Holcomb. Amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 1 by adding that it is the state’s public policy “to recognize the union of only a man and a woman,” and that marriages between persons of the same sex “are prohibited in This state.” Additionally, an amendment has been proposed to spell out legislative policy “to recognize the family, which begins with the marriage of one (1) man and one (1) woman....” Passed by Senate. House Bill 2907 — Identical companion bill. Passed by House. Signed by Governor. See Tennessee Annotated Code Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 113.

Statewide Employment Protections
no	Private employment protections based on sexual orientation.
no	Private employment protections based on gender identity.
no	Public (state) employment protections based on sexual orientation.
-	Public (state) employment protections based on gender identity.

Statewide Parenting Laws
Who May Adopt	Any person. 36 TCA § 36-1-115.
Second Parent Adoptions	Not yet permitted.
Notes	Recent signs of growing tolerance. Adoption by individual lesbian approved in In re Adoption of M.J.S., 44 S.W.3d 41 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). Sexual orientation neutral visitation standards adopted. Hogue v. Hogue, 2004 WL 578593 (Tenn. Ct. App., March 24, 2004); Eldridge v. Eldridge, 42 S.W.3d 82 (Tenn. 2001) (affirming unrestricted overnight visitation for lesbian mother living with partner).