Following the recent Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, Tennessee and Florida state legislators have begun drafting a version of a Pastor Protection Act for their respective states, similar to the one that was recently passed in Texas.
"The intention of this legislation is to provide legal immunity to religious [individuals] who wish not to provide ceremonies for same-sex couples," Tennessee Representative Andy Holt (R-Dresden) told Nashville's CBS affiliate. Holt is drafting Tennessee's version of the Pastor Protection Act with State Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro).
"It also allows them to deny the use of their facilities for such ceremonies," Holt added.
The Florida measure is being drafted by State Representative Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) and State Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), who said similarly that the bill would be designed to protect clergy from penalties or lawsuits from refusing certain services against their religious beliefs.
Some question whether such a bill is necessary, and argue that clergy are protected already under the First Amendment to refuse to perform wedding services against their beliefs.
"No pastor or church will be required to marry any couple that they wish not to marry," Hannah Willard from Florida Equality Action, Inc. told Fox News 35. "That's the way it's always been, and it will continue to be the case. The recent Supreme Court ruling has nothing to do with pastors and churches that refrain or refuse to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies."
Representative Plakon argues that "courts have twisted the laws over the past few years," and that having such a state bill in place allows "comfort and protection for pastors and clergy."
"Senator Bean and I want to make it absolutely clear in Florida law that pastors and religious practitioners have First Amendment rights to practice their faith when it comes to marriages," Plakon told Charisma News. "We've already spoken with a handful of pastors and they are very concerned about this and how it is progressing."
The Texas Pastor Protection Act was passed in June 11, with bipartisan support. Texas Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin), who is supportive of same-sex marriages, said that if the bill "gives pastors a peace of mind, I welcome it becoming law."
