STATE OFFICIALS REACT

Two state legislators said Friday they are drafting a bill to shield Tennessee clergy from having to perform same-sex marriages and churches from having to host the ceremonies.

State Reps. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, and Andy Holt, R-Dresden, said they will co-sponsor a Tennessee Pastor Protection Act for presentation to the 2016 legislative session, which opens next January.

But University of Tennessee law professor Michael Higdon said Friday that neither current law nor Friday’s Supreme Court ruling requires a pastor to perform a wedding.

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, called the court’s decision “unfortunate and fundamentally wrong.” Attorney General Herbert Slatery said it was “disappointing” that Tennesseans have no vote on the issue.

Said Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, as part of a tweet: “In a word: Wowza!”