Pregnant Lesbian Couples Sue Tennessee Governor Over 'Natural' Language Law

[herding cats]

Source: NBC


Four married lesbian couples, each expecting children in the fall, have filed a lawsuit against Tennessee over the state's new "Natural and Ordinary" language law.

The law signed Friday by Gov. Bill Haslam mandates that all words in the state's various legal codes be interpreted to have "natural and ordinary" meanings — including words like "wife" and "mother," which the couples say could interfere with their parental rights.

The law, which seems vague and semantic at first glance, came after conservative legislators filed a motion to intervene in a high-profile lesbian custody battle in Knoxville last fall. A handful of bills proposed in January sought to restrict the definition of terms like "husband" and "wife" in response — and while Senate Bill 1085 never specifically mentions LGBT couples, critics and supporters alike have pointed out its intent.

"Undefined words shall be given their natural and ordinary meaning," the law reads, "Without forced or subtle construction that would limit or extend the meaning of the language, except when a contrary intention is clearly manifest."

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/amp/pregnant-lesbian-couples-sue-tennessee-governor-over-natural-language-law-n756591

[PsychoBabble]

1. Huh?

That is just messed up.

How about we pack all of those TN legislators in the KY ark, float them out to sea, and let them wander across the waves until they land on a mountaintop, get raptured, or something ....

In the meantime ... two loving moms will be just fine.

[J_William_Ryan]

2. Its just more hatred and bigotry from the right.

[onetexan]

6. that's exactly what it is

thinly veiled discrimination

[Matthew28]

3. The right in this country reminds me of the isis in many ways

[ProudLib72]

4. Tiny minds fucking with small legal passages

have HUGE consequences.

Time for them to leave their mitts off any and all legislation.

[AllaN01Bear]

5. take my wife please . where in the heck do they come up with this stuff.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. In a nutshell

"Undefined words shall be given their natural and ordinary meaning," the law reads, "Without forced or subtle construction that would limit or extend the meaning of the language, except when a contrary intention is clearly manifest."

The clause does exactly what it purports to prevent, and allows what it wants to impose.

Courts ought to knock this one out.

[Angry Dragon]

8. Big Assholes down there in the big state of Texas