Michigan Moves To Block Gays From Having Canadian Marriages Recognized
Fri. October 3, 2003 12:00 AM by 365gay.com
Lansing, Michigan -
Canada is just minutes away from Michigan, and that's far to close for a group of conservative politicians concerned that legalized marriage just might creep through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel and become law in the state.
Today, state Sen. Alan Cropsey of DeWitt, a Republican, and Rep. Triette Reeves of Detorit, a Democrat, announced plans to bring in so-called Defense of Marriage legislation.
Cropsey's bill, would declare that marriage in Michigan is exclusively between one man and one woman.
Reeves told a Capitol Hill news conference that the proposed amendment is a long-needed affirmation of the concept of traditional marriage and family.
But, she dismissed charges the bill would be homophobic. "I'm not antigay. I'm not anti-anybody," Reeves said. "I'm pro-marriage."
Cropsey was more direct. He said the amendment is needed as a defense against gay-rights activism. Courts elsewhere are almost certain to sanction gay unions in the near future, and Ontario has done so, Cropsey said. It is only a matter of time until a same-sex couple from Michigan will return home after a marriage elsewhere and seek to have it recognized in the state, he said.
If approved by two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate, the measure would be placed on the ballot in either August or November.
Gay rights group call the move overkill, and mean spirited.
A state law that prohibited the recognition of same-sex or other nontraditional marriages was approved overwhelmingly and signed by Gov. John Engler in 1996.
Meanwhile, nationally, efforts are underway to amend the US Constitution to prevent same-sex couples from marrying. Conservative groups today unveiled plans for a massive voter registration drive, and a campaign to force elected officials to sign a "Marriage Protection Pledge".
©365Gay.com® 2003
Today, state Sen. Alan Cropsey of DeWitt, a Republican, and Rep. Triette Reeves of Detorit, a Democrat, announced plans to bring in so-called Defense of Marriage legislation.
Cropsey's bill, would declare that marriage in Michigan is exclusively between one man and one woman.
Reeves told a Capitol Hill news conference that the proposed amendment is a long-needed affirmation of the concept of traditional marriage and family.
But, she dismissed charges the bill would be homophobic. "I'm not antigay. I'm not anti-anybody," Reeves said. "I'm pro-marriage."
Cropsey was more direct. He said the amendment is needed as a defense against gay-rights activism. Courts elsewhere are almost certain to sanction gay unions in the near future, and Ontario has done so, Cropsey said. It is only a matter of time until a same-sex couple from Michigan will return home after a marriage elsewhere and seek to have it recognized in the state, he said.
If approved by two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate, the measure would be placed on the ballot in either August or November.
Gay rights group call the move overkill, and mean spirited.
A state law that prohibited the recognition of same-sex or other nontraditional marriages was approved overwhelmingly and signed by Gov. John Engler in 1996.
Meanwhile, nationally, efforts are underway to amend the US Constitution to prevent same-sex couples from marrying. Conservative groups today unveiled plans for a massive voter registration drive, and a campaign to force elected officials to sign a "Marriage Protection Pledge".
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.