The House and Senate Democrats have introduced a package of bills and resolutions to bring marriage equality to Michigan. We do this because marriage can’t wait for those loving couples in our state who deserve the basic human right to exchange vows with the one they want to spend the rest of their life with.
Included in the package are:
- Resolutions to place a repeal of Michigan’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage before the voters.
- Legislation to allow same-sex marriage.
- Legislation to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
- A bill to allow married same-sex couples file state taxes jointly.
- A bill concerning the filing of marriage licenses.
The bills were introduced as more than 300 same-sex couples prepared to celebrate their one-year anniversary. In March 2014, a federal judge ruled Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the United States Constitution. This allowed a brief window in which more than 300 couples married in Michigan before the 6th Circuit stayed the decision. In February 2015, the state was ordered to recognize those marriages as legal. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the DeBoer v. Snyder case on April 28, with a decision expected in June.
We will keep you updated as this issue unfolds.