Two Votes Stymie Wishes of 400,000+ Marriage Traditionalists in Michigan

by Jody Brown
August 25, 2004

(AgapePress) - Once again, it appears that a group of black-robed judges -- not the people and not the legislature -- will have the final say in whether voters will have a chance to determine the fate of a state constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage. That, despite almost half-a-million signatures on a petition to put the measure on the November ballot.

Supporters of traditional marriage in Michigan did what they had to do. According to state law, they needed 317,000 signatures on a petition to get the following proposed amendment placed on the November ballot: "To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose."

After gathering more than 464,000 signatures in favor of that amendment, all they needed to do was have the signatures certified by the Board of State Canvassers -- a simple enough step, one would think. But the four-member board deadlocked on the decision to certify the petitions, the two Democrats on the board voting against certification.

One of those Democratic board member is Doyle O'Connor, who said he is concerned the amendment's wording would mean employers cannot provide benefits to same-sex partners. He also said it could violate equal-protection laws and prohibit churches from deciding whom to marry.

Pro-family advocate Gary Bauer of American Values says he is stunned by the audacity of that rationale. "That's the first time I have ever heard advocates of same-sex 'marriage' express any 'concern' for the rights of churches," he says.

Gary Bauer

It is yet another example, Bauer adds, of the determination of "cultural radicals and their liberal Democratic allies" to force their values on society. "Those who seek to redefine traditional marriage have lost the public debate," he says, "and so now, without any hesitancy at all, they are resorting to every undemocratic method possible to deny [people] the right to vote on this fundamental issue."

Bauer likely would include the two Democratic state canvassers in Michigan among that group. He says in reference to that tie vote that the American philosophy of government is in "grave danger when two cultural extremists can so blatantly hijack an entire state."

Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, labels the canvassers' deadlock as unconstitutional. "The decision is clearly in conflict with the Michigan constitution, which says that if enough signatures are gathered, the people of Michigan have a right to vote on a proposed amendment to the constitution on the ballot," he explains.

Gary Glenn

Glenn also notes an ironic twist to the canvassers' statements. "It's curious that the Democratic members of the Board of Canvassers, who a few years ago were saying let every vote count, in this case want no votes to count," he states.

Glenn says organizers of the petition drive are appealing the vote to the Michigan Supreme Court, and that it is likely the Supreme Court will put the issue on the ballot. He hopes the court will be swift in making a ruling because the ballot must be finalized the first week of September.

State's Snowball Effect
It has been pointed out by many marriage traditionalists that homosexual activists do not want states' voters to have a say in the matter. Advocates of same-sex marriage clearly prefer the issue to be decided by activist, sympathetic judges -- because thus far, in those states where people have had the opportunity to vote on the issue, the proposed amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman has won overwhelmingly.

The states of Alaska, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, and Missouri are all considered "safe" states for the institution of marriage right now, barring any intervention by activist federal judges. Other states waiting in the wings include Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah -- and Michigan, should an appeal of the Board of Canvassers' vote be successful.

Bob Knight of the Culture and Family Institute describes the effect of the mounting and undeniable support for traditional marriage. "The electrified campaigns we see in the states illustrate that the threat of 'gay marriage' being imposed in America by activist judges and lawless mayors has ignited mainstream America to protect marriage," he says.

In those states where voters have approved marriage amendments to their constitution, upwards of 70 percent of voters have voted to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. In all cases, the victory has been more than a 2-to-1 margin.