Michigan state representative plans to overturn ban on same-sex marriage |
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Seattle Gay News
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posted Friday, November 13, 2009 - Volume 37 Issue 46 Michigan state representative plans to overturn ban on same-sex marriageby Shaun Knittel - SGN Staff Writer In the aftermath of a General Election passage of a Gay-rights ordinance in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a state representative introduced a plan to overturn Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage. Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) introduced a resolution to amend the state constitution to allow Gay marriage. Voters instituted the ban in 2004, when they approved Proposal 2. On November 3, voters approved by a wide margin, a Kalamazoo city ordinance that prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity - the 16th Michigan city to pass such a measure. "This is & an economic issue," Byrnes said. "Young people want to go to cities and communities that are progressive, accepting of people, and have good quality of life. That's something that Kalamazoo is now going to have." Byrnes admits overturning the statewide ban, which courts have interpreted to include all same-sex domestic partnerships, will be a challenge. According to Byrnes, both chambers would have to pass the resolution to place the question on the ballot - a scenario unlikely to happen in the Republican-controlled Senate. However, if the resolution were to fail, proponents would have to collect more than 380,000 signatures to bring the question to a vote in the November 2, 2010 General Election. Public opinion has changed in recent years, Byrnes says, especially in reaction to stories of same-sex couples being denied access to a partner's health care benefits or visitation rights to their loved ones at hospitals. "I know it's going to be a struggle," she said. "But we have seen some very significant changes in a short period of time; the ordinance in Kalamazoo is an indication." Byrnes said if people have a Gay daughter or son, they think they should be able to enter into a committed relationship. "We're going to keep pushing this until we have enough votes to do it," she said. Byrnes' plan would amend Michigan's Constitution, repealing the Proposal 2 same-sex marriage ban and would allow Michigan to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. She also plans to introduce legislation that would permit same-sex marriage. The legislation contains a religious exemption to allow clergy the right to refuse performing or certifying same-sex marriages. Currently, 15 states have some level of protection for same-sex couples. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire allow Gay marriage. However, Americans remain divided on the issue, as this year's General Elections showed - as Maine voters repealed a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed, Washingtonians approved Ref. 71, and a law allowing same-sex marriage in California is being challenged in state courts. |
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