Not everyone is celebrating Traditional Marriage Day.
Today, members of College Democrats and the university’s LGBT social organization “volOUT” will protest Traditional Marriage Day on Pedestrian Walkway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In April 2013, the state legislature passed a resolution establishing Aug. 31 as “ido4life Traditional Marriage Day” in Tennessee. The resolution referenced certain “physical, emotional and financial” benefits of conventional matrimony in addition to economic and emotional advantages for children. Citing the Bible, the resolution also specified marriage can only be expressed between man and wife.
In opposition, College Democrats and volOUT will hold a “photo protest,” inviting students to have their picture taken with handwritten responses to the question, “What is your definition of marriage?” The photos will then be collected and sent to members of the Tennessee Legislature.
For Thomas Tran, anthropology major and volOUT events coordinator, the protest provides an opportunity to spread awareness.
“It’s a friendly protest against the idea of ‘Traditional Marriage Day,'” said Tran, who believes the term “marriage” has been “hijacked,” by certain office-holders. “We believe that [marriage] should be between any two people that love each other.”
Community voices have questioned the necessity of the resolution, given that a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was passed in 2006.
Tran emphasized marriage should be left to the discretion of those directly involved in a relationship. As an active member of volOUT, Tran and his fellow members organize educational programs, social activities and political actions throughout the year in order to increase the awareness of LGBT issues.
Weston Bell, senior and vice-president of UT’s chapter of College Republicans views the issue in a political light.
“We have to think about the politics of an area,” said Bell, acknowledging the vast majority of Tennessee voters are practicing Christians. “[Tennessee politicians] are required to uphold the views of their constituents. … If [Republican Lawmakers] do not oppose gay marriage, they will not be re-elected.”
Mitchell Thompson, president of College Democrats and junior in economics, has high hopes for this Friday’s protest.
“We hope to raise awareness, to enlighten and also inform these legislatures that what they’re doing is not okay,” Thompson said.
While Thompson doesn’t anticipate a response from the state capitol, he maintained the importance of simply voicing concern. Legislators, Thompson noted, “tend to alienate themselves in Nashville,” where they often fail to recognize “dissenting opinions.”
Thompson said, “There are people who view this ‘Traditional Marriage Day’ as an attack on their rights.”
