Around 150 members of the public gathered in a meeting room for the debate with some attendees expressing their disbelief by shouting "Cowards!" and "You've got to be kidding me!" on hearing of the adjournment, which casts doubt over whether the resolution will ever be heard.
The meeting room was filled to capacity, with the vast majority wearing red to signify support for same-sex marriage and opposition to the resolution. About 100 other people wearing red were gathered outside the Blount County Courthouse, where the meeting took place.
"I'm definitely looking to find out more answers, but I do think that we sent a message today," said Gwen Schablik, the area chair for the Tennessee Equality Project, a gay-rights advocacy group.
"I think the message was that we do not support this resolution. We are against the message that it is sending. There are many other issues that we need to be working on in this county."
