Analysis of the Tennessee Covenant Marriage

Abstract

Most recent data from the World Population Review suggests that Tennessee’s divorce rate (3.3% per 1,000 people) is among the highest divorce rates in the country (2024). Although the country and state average rate has decreased in the past five years, many Tennesseans are concerned at the number of failed marriages. House Bill 0315, introduced by Republican Representative Gino Bulso, is a result of this growing concern. House Bill 0315, better known as the “Tennessee Covenant Marriage Act,” aims to strengthen Tennessee marriages by limiting divorce options for couples and requiring a premarital counseling course (Jenkins, 2025). Proponents of this act claim it’s the ultimate solution to Tennessee’s high divorce rates. However, they fail to see how this bill is harmful for multiple marginalized populations. The bill is based on the historically Christian assumption that the only “true” or “real” marriage is between one man and one woman. In order to have a covenant marriage, there must be a pairing of one man and one woman in a couple. By its own definition, this bill excludes queer marriage. Not only this, but it also makes it harder for a couple to divorce, making harmful or abusive relationships all the harder to leave. This paper discusses the negative impacts this bill would have if passed, and urges the reader to take action to vote against its passing