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October 20, 2004Proposal 2's reach goes well beyond gay unionsMichigan's Proposal 2, the so-called "gay marriage" amendment on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot, won't do what supporters say it will do - ban marriages between two men or two women.That's because marriage between people of the same sex is already illegal in Michigan and has been since 1846, when a state statute was adopted that stated "a marriage contract between persons of the same sex are invalid." That prohibition was strengthened in 1996 when the Michigan Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as a union between one man and one women, was approved. A federal version of the law passed the same year. So we've got that covered. It's what Proposal 2 will do, however, that should see it defeated. The ballot wording is simple enough: "A proposal to amend the state constitution to specify what can be recognized as a 'marriage or similar union' for any purpose. The proposal would amend the state constitution to provide that '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.' Should this proposal be adopted?" Legal scholars say the imprecision of "or similar union for any purpose" opens the door to a host of abuses, most notably denying existing legal protections for unmarried couples. Firms like General Motors and Ford Motor Co. could be forced to stop granting insurance benefits to domestic partners - including male-female couples. And laws that prevent discrimination against unmarried couples in housing and employment could be declared unconstitutional. In other words, everyone will have to live the way the biggest backers of the proposal - the Roman Catholic Church and Michigan's religious right - want them to live: married or as singles. No domestic partnerships. No civil unions. Even between men and women. It's outrageous. And it needs to be defeated. By October, the group Citizens for the Protection of Marriage had raised more than $1 million to push the proposal. Of that, the Roman Catholic church of Michigan contributed $480,000 and the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council $130,000. The DeVos family, the right-wing Amway millionaires who rule state Republican politics, kicked in about a tenth themselves. Richard DeVos, husband of Michigan Republican Chair Betsy DeVos, put up $20,000 and Doug and Maria DeVos $30,000. Elsa Prince Broekhuizen of Holland, a relative, contributed $75,000. Gay rights groups have called Proposal 2 shameful, and it is. More importantly, however, it's a Trojan horse that could rob rights and benefits from a host of people. It has no place in the state constitution. Vote "no" on Proposal 2.
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