Tennessee Equality Project protests proposed county resolution seeking “God’s mercy”

Staff report

Maryville, TN. An East Tennessee county will consider a resolution asking God for mercy as it is forced to comply with the Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized gay marriage nationwide.

The resolution says Blount County must comply with the ruling by issuing and recognizing marriage licenses for same-sex couples.

The Tennessean reports that the resolution asks state officials including the governor and attorney general to protect "natural marriage" from "lawless" court opinions and defend moral standards.

It also asks God to protect the county from the fate of the biblical cities Sodom and Gomorrah.

The resolution says, "We adopt this resolution before God that He pass us by in His Coming Wrath and not destroy our County as He did Sodom and Gomorrah."

The county commission will take up the resolution at its Tuesday meeting.

According to WATE, the ABC affiliate in Knowxville, “The Tennessee Equality Project’s president said the resolution spreads a message of hate. ‘I was definitely shaking. I was upset. I was so much in shock that I couldn’t even cry,” said Gwen Schablik about ready the resolution for the first time. “She’s definitely violating the separation of church and state.’”

The station reported that member of the Tennessee Equality Project plan to attend the Commission meeting dressed in red to voice their opposition. “The fact that she is singling out one religion over another is further divisive to the community,” said Schablik.

Report on the proposed resolution by AP with added comment by The Gayly. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – October 6, 2015 @ 11:30am.