Go to the 2018 Gubernatorial Videos main page to find out more about the letter we sent, the questions we asked, and the process we followed in making sure as many candidates as possible participated in this video voter guide.
The third week in February, the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) sent letters to all the gubernatorial candidates, both the Democratic candidates and the Republican candidates, asking them to participate in our video voter guide. Those candidates included (in alphabetical order): Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Karl Dean, Craig Fitzhugh, Beth Harwell, Bill Lee, and Kay White. Participants who followed our guidelines and answered all 9 questions include Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Bill Lee, and Kay White.
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QUESTION 4
If litigation over a new or existing law in Tennessee or even in some other state gave the United States Supreme Court an opportunity to reverse its 2015 decision regarding same-sex marriage, would it be your hope that the Court would do so? Why or why not?
DIANE BLACK
Diane Black’s answer transcribed from video
Well, it certainly would be my hope. First of all, I believe that we have the right here in our state to make that decision and we did. Back in 2006, when I was serving in the Legislature, you were serving in the Legislature, we had it on the ballot. And the people here of the state of Tennessee by an overwhelming majority, 81 percent, said that they wanted our state to honor marriage as between one man and one woman. And I was very disappointed that the Supreme Court took that away from us. We should have the Tenth Amendment right to say in our state how we define marriage. And if they overturned it, which I would hope that they would do at some point in time, I would celebrate.
RANDY BOYD
Randy Boyd’s answer transcribed from video
As a Christian, I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman. And as Governor, I will continue to have that belief.
BILL LEE
Bill Lee’s answer transcribed from video
I have always believed that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman instituted by God. When the Supreme Court intervened, I think they went around the democratic process and they made a ruling that our Founding Fathers would never have envisioned. I think those decisions should be left up to individual states, and I think we should not be leaving that to the decision of nine unelected judges.
KAY WHITE
Kay White’s answer transcribed from video
Well, first of all, I have to say the Supreme Court, by our Constitution, did not have the right to make any law, so that was an illegal decision on their part when they tried to make a law that they didn’t have the right to make, David. I just tell it like it is, and this is the truth. But, yes, as far as reversing that, I would be for them reversing that because they had no business making that law, and we as citizens set back and allowed this to happen. This should be—In each individual state, we have government set up, and they had no business interfering in what they were elected to do. They did something totally illegal, totally unconstitutional, and I am by the Constitution for our United States.
