Reject harmful resolution undermining LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality

The resolution condemning the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges is misguided and harmful. The ruling affirmed the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry, upholding principles of equal protection and due process enshrined in the Constitution. Marriage equality is a matter of basic human rights and dignity, not a threat to religious liberty or democratic principles. Obergefell did not redefine liberty, but rather recognized that the right to marry is a core part of individual liberty that cannot be denied based on sexual orientation. Far from undermining human dignity, the decision upheld the equal dignity of LGBTQ+ people. The historical definition of marriage has evolved over time, and the Court rightly rejected unjustified discrimination. While marriage laws were traditionally state issues, the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to respect constitutional rights. When state laws violate those rights, as bans on same-sex marriage did, federal courts have a duty to strike them down. Enshrining discrimination in a state constitution does not make it permissible. This resolution seeks to revive the same arguments rejected in Obergefell and undo critical civil rights advances. I urge you to respect LGBTQ+ Michiganders' equality and dignity by rejecting this harmful resolution. Marriage equality strengthens families and communities while upholding our nation's highest ideals.