“California’s recent court case will not affect the legality of same-sex unions in Michigan, said Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan. The association has publicly stated its opinion numerous times that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry. ‘The fact that an openly homosexual judge would vote to overturn the vote of 7 million Californians in favor of constitutionally defining marriage as between one man and one woman is anything but surprising,’ Glenn said. ‘It will be appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which will be the only decision that counts.’

Changing Michigan’s same-sex marriage laws might come to a nationwide decision, said communication senior Justin Ford, a program assistant at the MSU Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender Resource Center. …’As the country as a whole continues to become more comfortable (with same-sex marriages), and the Legislature starts to reflect that comfort, then Michigan will have no choice (but) to come around.’”
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THE STATE NEWS
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
August 9, 2010

Michigan still navigating same-sex marriage law
By Karen Confer

Although gay rights advocates across the nation might be claiming victory after a federal judge overturned a same-sex marriage ban in California, the fight more than 2,000 miles away is to some Michiganians a reminder of the state’s own unresolved legislation on the matter.

As Californians argue over the constitutionality of Proposition 8, a measure passed by voters in 2008 that banned same-sex marriages there, some Michigan legislators are working to update and clarify a similar state measure.

In 2004, Michigan voters approved a state constitutional amendment banning both same-sex marriages and civil unions in the state. Now, a bill, which was introduced to the state House of Representatives in November 2009, would seek to make Michigan recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

The bill falls short of allowing same-sex couples to obtain a marriage license, which would run contrary to the measure passed in 2004. Instead, it seeks to change wording contained in the state’s Foreign Marriages Act of 1939 from “a man and a woman” to “individuals.”

California is having similar struggles defining marriage. In 2008, a ruling by the state Supreme Court allowed same-sex marriages. Five months later, a voter-approved constitutional amendment disallowed them. Last week, a U.S. District Court in northern California found the amendment unconstitutional.
The ruling in California could be a sign opinions toward same-sex marriage are changing throughout the country, said state Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township, the primary sponsor of the bill to amend Michigan’s law.

“Attitudes are changing, and obviously we are seeing more court opinions (as) more and more people realize that same-sex couples should not be discriminated against,” Byrnes said. “The more states that are realizing these bans are illegal, maybe it’s time to get some movement.”

After the bill was introduced to the House, it was referred to the Judiciary Committee, but has not been taken up. Although the committee chair, state Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, is a co-sponsor on the bill, Byrnes said it likely has not been addressed in case it might jeopardize representatives’ reelection efforts.

“It’s a very controversial issue,” Byrnes said. “This is a political year. It might put many legislators in an awkward situation, having to vote for that coming up before election.”

Regardless of the election cycle, the constitutional amendment was approved by the people and legislators should not infringe on the will of the people, said state Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
“The people of Michigan overwhelmingly voted they did not think gay marriage was a marriage,” Jones said. “I’m a representative of the people and I will not vote for something the people do not want.”

California’s recent court case will not affect the legality of same-sex unions in Michigan, said Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan. The association has publicly stated its opinion numerous times that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry.

“The fact that an openly homosexual judge would vote to overturn the vote of 7 million Californians in favor of constitutionally defining marriage as between one man and one woman is anything but surprising,” Glenn said. “It will be appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which will be the only decision that counts.”

Changing Michigan’s same-sex marriage laws might come to a nationwide decision, said communication senior Justin Ford, a program assistant at the MSU Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender Resource Center.

“Michigan legislators and our legislative stances on same-sex marriages (are) the strictest in the states,” Ford said.

“As the country as a whole continues to become more comfortable (with same-sex marriages), and the Legislature starts to reflect that comfort, then Michigan will have no choice (but) to come around.”

http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/08/mich_still_navigating_samesex_marriage_law
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Three GOP state Senate candidates who opposed Marriage
Protection Amendment were rejected by voters Tuesday

LANSING, Mich. — A statewide family values PAC chaired by a co-author of Michigan’s Marriage Protection Amendment won all three of the Republican state Senate contests it targeted in Tuesday’s primary election.

Gary Glenn, Midland, chairman of the Campaign for Michigan Families, recorded robocalls criticizing former state Rep. Leon Drolet in Macomb, former state Rep. Lorence Wenke in Kalamazoo, and newcomer Brett VanderKamp in Holland for their opposition to the Marriage Protection Amendment approved by Michigan voters in 2004. The amendment constitutionally defines marriage as only between one man and one woman. Drolet and Wenke were among only three GOP legislators who voted against the amendment that year.

The PAC also placed radio ads criticizing Wenke’s record on other homosexual issues, including his support for legalizing homosexual adoption. Its robocalls in the Kalamazoo district also criticized another candidate in that race, Rep. Larry DeShazor, for being one of only two incumbent Republicans to vote in favor of homosexual activists’ so-called “hate crimes” legislation. Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker, who led the Judiciary Committee debate against the “hate crimes” bill defeated Wenke nearly 2-to-1, with DeShazor bringing up the rear.

Drolet came in third in a four-way primary in Macomb County won by former Rep. Jack Brandenburg, who in 2007 joined Glenn in criticizing Saginaw Valley State University for staging a homosexual-themed play that featured full frontal male nudity, a violation of the state’s indecent exposure statutes. After Glenn raised the issue, Brandenburg threatened to introduce legislation to cut state funding of the university. Glenn’s robocalls and news releases also criticized Drolet for sponsoring legislation to legalize homosexual adoption and to repeal Michigan’s sodomy and “gross indecency” laws, both used by law enforcement to deter homosexual activity in public parks, restrooms, and rest areas, which police say threatens public health.

VanderKamp lost to incumbent Rep. Arlan Meekhoff, a strong proponent of traditional family values endorsed by Campaign for Michigan Families in its robocalls. VanderKamp told a Holland radio station last month that he would vote to put a repeal of the Marriage Protection Amendment on the ballot, that he had “a moral problem” with the state regulating the definition of marriage, and that he couldn’t remember how he personally voted on the amendment on the ballot in 2004.

Both Drolet and Wenke were endorsed in previous races by Triangle Pride PAC, a homosexual activist group based in Detroit which called Drolet its “single strongest supporter” among Republicans in Lansing. Both had been honored as “heroes” at the homosexual Log Cabin Republicans national convention in New Orleans in 2005. The same group presented Wenke an award at its 2007 convention in Denver.
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