Dickson County Commissioners voted unanimously on a controversial resolution to disagree with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage.
The vote made Dickson the sixth county to approve a resolution like this. Just hours later Tuesday night Carter County approved its own version of the resolution.
The resolution asks for an amendment to the U.S. constitution to give states the power to define marriage. Referring to the 2006 Tennessee vote when marriage was defined as between a man and a woman, the resolution seeks to outlaw same sex marriage in the state.
"We have no idea why a county government would want to pass a resolution against its own people," said Tennessee Equality Project Director Chris Sanders.
A large crowd wearing blue in support of the resolution showed up to the commission meeting more than three hours before it was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
"I think that the Supreme Court decision overruled the will of the people of the state of Tennessee," said Pastor Dan Duke, who brought 12 members of his Power and Praise Church with him.
Dozens against the resolution wore red to show support for same sex couples. County staff opened an overflow room with speakers playing the meeting audio to accommodate the crowd and dozens more citizens stood in the hallway.
Just thirty minutes after the meeting began, commissioners made the unanimous vote to pass the resolution after almost no discussion on the topic.
"This resolution is just to send a message to the state to say this is how we feel about the issue and we want you to take action," said Commissioner Jeff Eby, the only commissioner to speak before the vote.
A spirited debate between the people on both sides of the debate broke out after the vote on the courthouse steps. The crowd was eventually broken up by the Sheriff and several deputies.
