Rhea panel delays vote on gay resolution

A fumbled attempt earlier this year led to a vote banning gays altogether — threatening them with arrest for “crimes against nature.”

That measure was quickly withdrawn, but not before national attention brought protests and cries of outrage from the gay community.

The commissioners are now working up a resolution that would specify support for the state’s ban on homosexual marriage.

The resolution was originally on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. But the resolution is instead headed for a workshop to make sure it says what they want it to say.

“After the last incident, we don’t want to put anything hastily on the agenda,” said commissioner Dennis Tumlin.

Commissioner Dennis Tumlin, who worked on the resolution with County Attorney Gary Fritts, said he plans to bring the resolution to July’s workshop for more discussion.

The resolution Tumlin is presenting would urge legislators to uphold Tennessee’s definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. It also requested that current Tennessee law banning same-sex marriage be adopted as amendments to state and U.S. constitutions.

Tumlin said the resolution could put to rest the debate over gays.

“Everyone is asking, ‘Why didn’t you finish what you started,'” Tumlin said. “This puts an end to it.”

Commissioners said they want to move past the issues of the past two months and on to more important things.

“Were hoping to end it once and for all,” Mr. Tumlin said.

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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com