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Opposing views on gay marriage: ‘Equality’ and ‘biblical values’

Posted at 4:44 am July 3, 2015
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Melanie Heiberg

Oak Ridge resident Melanie Heiberg organized a celebration at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday, June 26, after a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision made gay marriage legal in all 50 states. “This is about equality,” Heiberg said.

 

Note: This story was updated at 11 a.m.

There was a range of reactions in Oak Ridge and across the state this week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision on Friday, June 26, that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. That decision made gay marriage legal in all 50 states.

Some said the decision made them proud to be Americans, while others worried about whether the country is straying from biblical values.

Melanie Heiberg and others celebrated the decision at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church last Friday. Heiberg said she was raised by two dads—her father and his partner—when she was in high school.

“This is about equality,” Helberg said. “Everyone is as important as the next person.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Churches, Community, Faith, Federal, Government, Roane County, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Andy Holt, Bryan Terry, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Dale Crank, David Allred, Fred Holland, gay marriage, High Places Community Church, John Stumbo, King v. Burwell, Melanie Heiberg, National Association of Evangelicals, Oak Ridge Alliance Church, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex marriage, Tennessee Pastor Protection Act, Todd Waterman, U.S. Supreme Court

Historic day for same-sex couples: ‘Long, hard battle that love won’

Posted at 3:38 pm June 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Ann Spencer and Brandy Horn

Brandy Horn, right, and Ann Spencer discuss their wedding plans after a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision on Friday made same-sex marriages legal in all 50 states.

 

KINGSTON—They didn’t intend to make history, but they did.

Two women, Brandy Horn and Ann Spencer, became the first couple to receive a same-sex marriage license in Roane County. They picked it up at about 3 p.m. Friday, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage, making it legal in all 50 states.

“It was a relief,” Spencer said. “I was so happy I was about to cry. I was in disbelief. It was finally happening.”

Horn and Spencer live in Rockwood. They have been together for 16 years and worn rings for 15. They already considered themselves married. But now it will be legal.

“It has been a long, hard battle that love won today for all couples,” Horn said Friday. “It was also a proud moment to walk into our hometown courthouse and be given the same rights and privileges as any other couple would have.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Government, Roane County, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Ann Spencer, Brandy Horn, Chapel of Love, Constitution, domestic partnership, marriage, North Carolina, Obergefell v. Hodges, Roane County, Roane County Clerk, same-sex marriage, same-sex marriage license, Tennessee, U.S. Supreme Court

No same-sex marriage licenses issued in Anderson County yet

Posted at 3:27 pm June 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Jeff Cole

Jeff Cole

Note: This story was updated at 4:51 p.m.

The Anderson County Clerk received a few inquiries after the U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage on Friday, but the office hasn’t issued any licenses yet, an official said Saturday.

Tennessee officials had prepared county clerks for the landmark 5-4 decision. An email from the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office advised county clerks that Friday’s ruling made it legal for same-sex couples to marry. County clerks in the state’s 95 counties were advised to comply promptly, and implementing the federal court’s decision began immediately.

Anderson County Clerk Jeff Cole said residents could get same-sex marriage licenses starting at about 1 p.m. Friday (June 26), after county clerks received guidance on the issue.

“We had a few phone calls, but we didn’t issue any licenses yesterday,” Cole said Saturday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Faith, Federal, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Clerk, Fourteenth Amendment, Jeff Cole, Kentucky, marriage, Michigan, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Obergefell v. Hodges, Ohio, same-sex marriage, same-sex marriage license, Supreme Court, Tanco v. Haslam, Tennessee, Tennessee Attorney General's Office, U.S. Supreme Court

Roane County issues first same-sex marriage license

Posted at 3:42 pm June 26, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Roane County Courthouse

The Roane County Courthouse in Kingston is pictured above. (File photo)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:30 p.m.

Roane County issued its first same-sex marriage license on Friday afternoon, just a few hours after the U.S. Supreme Court backed gay marriage in a landmark 5-4 ruling.

The Roane County license was issued to two women at about 3 p.m. Friday, Roane County Clerk Barbara Anthony said. She said she can’t identify the two women.

Anthony declined to comment on the Supreme Court’s decision, which was celebrated in some circles and criticized in others.

“We just comply with the law,” Anthony said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Government, Roane County, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Barbara Anthony, Bill Haslam, constitutional amendment, gay marriage, Herbert Slatery, Ijpe DeKoe, Jeff Cole, Johno Espejo, Kellie Miller, marriage, Matthew Mansell, Obergefell v. Hodges, Roane County, Roane County Clerk, same-sex marriage, same-sex marriage license, Soppy Jesty, Tanco v. Haslam, Tennessee Attorney General, Tennessee Attorney General's Office, Thomas Kostura, U.S. District Court, U.S. Supreme Court, Valeria Tanco, Vanessa DeVillez, WBIR

Local church makes plans for same-sex weddings after expected Supreme Court decision

Posted at 12:02 pm June 19, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage, and Tennessee residents and state government officials are waiting to see how the Court’s decision will affect the state’s policy. In the midst of the wait, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church has begun making plans, a press release said.

“In keeping with our beliefs and to offer a sense of love and support to same-sex couples, ORUUC will offer free wedding services and a reception for same-sex couples as soon as the County Clerks’ offices are able to issue licenses,” ORUUC minister Reverend Jake Morrill said in the release. “Those who plan to marry should call the church office to request a time to speak with one of our ministers prior to the wedding day.”

“In the Book of Ruth, when Ruth tells Naomi, ‘Where you go, I will go; your people will be my people,’ people don’t get caught up with the gender,” said ORUUC Minister of Faith Formation Reverend Tandy Scheffler. “What they hear is love. What counts in this life is love. And at ORUUC, we are ready to bless public commitments of love between couples who’ve waited too long for the rights and honor denied to their families.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Faith, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: 14th Amendment, Christine Purcell, Jake Morrill, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, ORUUC, same-sex couples, same-sex marriage, same-sex weddings, Supreme Court, Tandy Scheffler, wedding services

Broadcaster Hallerin Hilton Hill to speak to AC Tea Party

Posted at 11:14 am May 2, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Hallerin Hilton Hill

Hallerin Hilton Hill

Radio broadcaster Hallerin Hilton Hill will be the featured speaker for an Anderson County Tea Party meeting on May 12 in Clinton.

The monthly meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at the Clinton Church of God.

Hill hosts the weekday “Morning Show” on Knoxville FM radio station News Talk 98.7 WOKI, and he hosts “Anything is Possible” on WBIR-TV on Sundays at noon. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events Tagged With: Anderson County Tea Party, Anything is Possible, Clinton Church of God, Common Core, Hallerin Hilton Hill, health care, immigration, Morning Show, News Talk 98.7, same-sex marriage, Tea Party, WBIR, WOKI

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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