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Tom Leatherwood, a Republican from Shelby County who represents the town of Arlington, Tennessee is facing heavy criticism for sponsoring Tennessee House Bill 233. The bill partially redefines marriage, removing minimum age requirements for straight couples only.
The bill, which passed the Tennessee House’s Children and Family Affairs subcommittee on April 4 and is currently being debated in the House Civil Justice Committee, would also empower Tennessee's attorney general to defend local and state authorities in the event they choose to deny a marriage license to a same-sex couple.
Leatherwood claims the bill is designed to “give an alternative form of marriage for those pastors and other individuals who have a conscientious objection to the current pathway to marriage in our law.” He notes that there is no "explicit age limit” mentioned in the bill.
You can hear what Leatherwood said in the video below.
WATCH: \u201cIS THERE NO AGE LIMIT?\u201d\n\n@RepMikeStewart & @TorreyHarris901 watch in horror as their @tnhousegop colleagues pass a \u201cSILLY\u201d marriage license for straight people that may legalize child marriage. \n\n(Leatherwood says its supporters are the real victims) #SlateOfHatepic.twitter.com/jGZIAy7eIh— The Memphis Holler (@The Memphis Holler) 1648405231
Critics of the legislation—which would establish common law marriages in the state between “one man and one woman"—say it poses a threat to marriage equality in the state, which has been legal since the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Others contend the legislation would pave the way to child marriage and child sexual abuse. Leatherwood—responding to concerns from lawmakers—said he thinks the bill "would be construed that minors would not be able to enter into this," a claim that prompted onlookers to suggest the legislation would inspire a 14th Amendment court challenge.
When a lawmaker questioned whether the legislature is "going to take the assumption" the bill "will not include minors," Leatherwood replied there is always “a bit of an assumption” on bills “because we never know what court will say what on anything.”
Many have criticized the legislation and taken Leatherwood to task for his remarks
Bizarre pedophilic marriage license law proposal by a guy named Leatherwood must be a weird horror flick meme.https://twitter.com/MemphisHoller/status/1508146967532253187\u00a0\u2026— Carl Southwell (@Carl Southwell) 1649261648
People who scream \u201cperverts\u201d at queer people are ok with child marriages.\n\nWho the eff is pervert here\u2026https://twitter.com/MemphisHoller/status/1508146967532253187\u00a0\u2026— Sarah, \ud83e\udd95 \ud83e\udd96 are \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@Sarah, \ud83e\udd95 \ud83e\udd96 are \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1648672926
Tennessee Republican Tom Leatherwood read The Handmaid\u2019s Tale and went, Ya let\u2019s make that policy here.— Larue \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 FIGHT FASCISM ELECT DEMOCRATS (@Larue \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 FIGHT FASCISM ELECT DEMOCRATS) 1649258623
Republican Tom Leatherwood proposes a Tennessee bill allowing common law marriage with no age verification. That\u2019s what your focused on Tom? Really moving the needle.— Texas is a Hootenanny (@Texas is a Hootenanny) 1649257346
Tennessee Republican Tom Leatherwood pushes a bill to allow CHILD MARRIAGE that would scrap the state's current minimum age of 17 before couples could tie the knot.\n\nWtf?? This man must have some sick ulterior motives.\n\nThese are Taliban policies.— marti (@marti) 1649191021
A genuine elected official and Child Sex Groomer - and naturally, he's a Republican. \n\nRepublican State Rep Tom Leatherwood seeks to legalize child marriage and forced marriage in Tennessee: #Grooming #GinGOPisForGroominghttps://heartlandsignal.com/2022/04/05/tennessee-bill-would-legalize-child-marriage-forced-marriages/\u00a0\u2026— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1649186331
Who\u2019s really the pro-pedophile party? Absolutely disgusting.https://twitter.com/qasimrashid/status/1511083163107405826\u00a0\u2026— Pat (@Pat) 1649265118
Tennessee Republican Tom Leatherwood has passed HB 233 out of committee, which would eliminate the minimum age for marriage. Leatherwood acknowledged there's no minimum age requirement on purpose.\n\nThis is absolutely horrifying and unacceptable.https://whnt.com/news/a-get-out-of-jail-free-card-gop-bill-would-eliminate-age-requirements-for-marriages-in-tennessee/\u00a0\u2026— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@Qasim Rashid, Esq.) 1649105275
Tom leatherwood of Tennessee wants to legalize pedophilia! We need to this sick prick to explain hisself, on camera, on record & anyone else who supports this bill. This is nothing less then legalized child slavery and rape directed and young girls! WE NEED THIS MAN TO EXPLAIN!— patty (@patty) 1649158506
The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) defines child marriage as any marriage where at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age.
The agency notes forced marriage is a marriage "in which one and/or both parties have not personally expressed their full and free consent to the union."
If the bill exits the committee, it is likely to pass the Republican-dominated Tennessee House.