Michigan State Rep. Pam Byrnes announced a joint resolution on Saturday that would have to be approved by 2/3 of the state legislature before going to voters on the 2010 ballot. The measure would repeal the state's amendment declaring marriage between a man and a woman, the Chicago Tribune reports:
"The proposal would be opposed at every step by many of the same
groups that successfully supported the 2004 campaign, including the
Catholic Church. The 2004 ballot measure passed by a 59 percent to
41 percent margin.
Byrnes said same-sex couples deserve the same rights as
opposite-sex couples in state law.
'No doubt, it will be a fight,' Byrnes said. 'But we're
seeing some attitudes change.'
Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of
Michigan, said he doubts even a simple majority of the Democrat-led
House would overturn the 2004 statewide vote. 'But it does make for high drama, as political theater goes, to
announce such radical legislation during a homosexual 'rights'
rally, even though it'll never see the light of day thereafter,'
Glenn said."
Byrnes announced the legislation at a gay rights rally in Lansing. Recent polls show a "seismic" shift in support for same-sex marriage and gay rights issues in the state.
