Same-sex marriage was banned (by a popular vote — imagine that) in 2004. But, in response to the overwhelming success of Kalamazoo’s Ordinance 1856 that gives LGBT people protection in housing and employment, Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes yesterday introduced a resolution to amend the state constitution to allow same-sex marriage:
Both chambers would have to pass the resolution to place the question on the ballot, a scenario unlikely to happen in the Republican-controlled Senate. If the resolution doesn’t pass, proponents would have to collect more than 380,000 signatures to bring the question to a vote in the Nov. 2, 2010, general election.
Byrnes said public opinion has swung quickly in recent years, especially in reaction to stories of same-sex couples being denied access to a partner’s health care benefits or visitation rights to their loved ones at hospitals.
“I know it’s going to be a struggle,” she said. “(But) we have seen some very significant changes in a short period of time; the ordinance in Kalamazoo is an indication.
This is the way to fight.
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