Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Tennesseans face some legal challenges that non-LGBT Tennesseans do not. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in the state. Marriage licenses have been issued to same-sex couples in Tennessee since the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015.
Video LGBT rights in Tennessee
Sodomy law
The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the state's sodomy statute was unconstitutional in 1996 in the case of Campbell v. Sundquist.
Maps LGBT rights in Tennessee
Recognition of same-sex relationships
Marriage
Prior to being overturned, Tennessee recognized neither same-sex marriages nor any other form of legal recognition of same sex-unions. The state banned same-sex marriage both by statute and by constitutional amendment. That ban was overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States on June 26, 2015.
House Bill 1111
Domestic partnership
The cities of Chattanooga, Collegedale and Knoxville together with the Metropolitan Area of Nashville and Davidson County have enacted domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples.
Adoption and parenting
Tennessee allows single persons to adopt children. Same-sex couples may legally adopt in the state. In 2007, the Tennessee Attorney General released an opinion that adoption by same-sex couples was not prohibited by state statute, and could be done if in the child's best interest.
Discrimination protection
Tennessee law does not prohibit discrimination of the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The cities of Knoxville and Memphis, together with the Metropolitan Area of Nashville and Davidson County have ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Tennessee Board of Regents has established a policy of non-discrimination with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and for students, while the University of Tennessee System covers sexual orientation only.
Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act
Senate Bill 1556
Hate crime
Tennessee law has punished hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation since 2001, but the law does not include gender identity, though it is covered by federal hate crime laws.
Gender Recognition
In 1977, the Tennessee state legislature passed a birth certificate statute that prohibits the state from altering the sex on birth certificates.Tennessee is the only state to prohibit the reassignment of one's gender on a birth certificate.
Summary table
See also
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Tennessee
- Tennessee Equality Project
- Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition
References
External links
- Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition
Source of article : Wikipedia
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