A proposed amendment to the state constitution would discriminate against gay and lesbian individuals, denying them the right to marry
and the right to engage in any legally equivalent relationship.
The Senate version, Senate Joint Resolution "E", introduced by Senator Cropsey, provides:
[O]nly marriage between one man and one woman shall be recognized as valid in this state. No other relationship shall be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent by the state, its political subdivisions, or educational institutions under Article VIII, regardless of whether such a relationship is recognized by the laws of any jurisdiction outside of this state.
By Senator Cropsey’s own admissions, the amendment bans both the recognition of domestic partnerships and marriage. House Joint Resolution’"U" is identical
MIRS News Service Today
Marriage Amendment Drive?
MIRS has learned that if neither HJR U or SJR E, the so-called marriage protection amendments, do not receive the required two-thirds support to place the issue on the November ballot, a petition drive is likely to follow.
For all practical purposes, there is not enough time for such a petition drive to place the issue on the November ballot, so it the likely target would be the 2006 ballot, when Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM will likely be up for re-election as well as many Senate members.
HJR U and SJR E are identical. They would prohibit the state government and local governments from recognizing gay and lesbian marriages, and appear to pre-empt recognition of some forms of civil unions.
It seems likely, but not certain, that there will be enough support for the measure in the House, where members are up for re-election this year. In the Senate, however, where members won't stand for re-election until 2006, enough "no" votes may be found to halt the legislation in its tracks.
However, a potential ballot initiative targeting 2006 might change this dynamic.
It now appears that a key player in the "marriage protection" movement in Michigan is Christian Coalition Organizer Marlene ELWELL, a longtime Republican activist, who is reportedly working on getting the issue passed in the Legislature.
If the issue doesn't pass, it's believed that Elwell would likely coordinate the alternative approach.
Elwell could not be reached today for comment.
A possible carrot to entice Democrats to vote for the legislation might be an amendment to place the issue on the August ballot and take it out of presidential and gubernatorial politics entirely.
