LANSING, Mich. – Democrats in the Michigan state House on Monday announced the upcoming introduction of a legislative package aimed at legalizing same-sex marriage in Michigan.
The bills — spearheaded by State Reps. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), Rudy Hobbs (D-Southfield), Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), and Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) — are similar to those introduced in the state Senate late last month.
Michigan state capitol in Lansing.
The first piece in the legislative package is a house joint resolution that would amend Michigan’s constitution to allow marriage equality, overturning the the existing ban on same-sex marriage approved by voters in 2004.
The second bill would amend the foreign marriage act by removing the prohibition against same-sex marriage allowing marriages solemnized in other states to be recognized in Michigan, while the third bill amends Michigan’s marriage laws authorizing who may marry.
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The final piece is a resolution calling on the U.S. Congress to repeal DOMA and respect equality for all U.S. citizens.
“It’s time for Michigan to stop discriminating against the thousands of couples who want to marry and enjoy the same recognition and benefits for themselves and their children that come with marriage, and that my wife, Kathryn, and our kids enjoy,” said Irwin, “the legislation that we propose today represents the next step in the fight to ensure all citizens are equal in Michigan.”
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Emily Dievendorf, managing director of Equality Michigan, and who participated in today’s announcement, said, “The Democratic leaders who will introduce these marriage equality bills recognize the importance of Michigan standing on the right side of history in regards to the rights of our LGBT citizens. Michigan’s voters will no longer tolerate second-class treatment of LGBT families. Enough is enough, and Representatives Singh, Hobbs, Irwin, and Segal deserve credit for helping lead the charge.”
Recent polling finds that a majority of Michigan voters support marriage equality and favor repealing the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The Legislature is currently on its summer recess.
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