Light and darkness is presently clashing throughout our nation. Michigan is no exception. The battle to preserve traditional marriage and religious freedom in our state is coming to the forefront. Brad Snavely of Michigan Family Forum has given us an update of a soon coming challenge in February regarding adoption of children by homosexual couples. Transformation Michigan has also provided a link to answer common questions regarding gay marriage and the topic of homosexuality.
Defending Marriage in Michigan – Timeline Update by Brad Snavely of MI Family Forum 1996 – State & Federal Laws Passed.
In 1996 the Michigan Legislature passed a law to clarify that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. This bill passed with strong bi-partisan support in both the State House and State Senate. Later that same year, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Clinton signed, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This law, which also had strong support from Democrats and Republicans, had two parts. First, it affirmed that the federal government would only recognize the one man/one woman definition of marriage. Second, it clarified that states would not be required to recognize the marriage law of another state with a different definition.
2004 – Michigan Voters Approve Marriage Amendment to State Constitution. In the summer of 2004, 30,000 volunteers collected 500,000 signatures to place an amendment to the state constitution on the November ballot. The amendment, which placed the historic definition of marriage in the state constitution, passed with nearly 59 percent of the vote. Part of this amendment, concerning recognition of “similar unions”, was challenged in state courts but was ultimately upheld by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2008.
2013 – U.S. Supreme Court Strikes the Federal Definition of Marriage. In June of the 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that the first part of the federal DOMA (the definition) was unconstitutional. This decision did not overturn state marriage laws as many advocates had hoped. However, Justice Kennedy’s strongly worded majority opinion gave new momentum and legal reasoning to challenge state laws and amendments.
The Michigan Challenge: DeBoer v. Snyder. Michigan requires couples to be married when applying to adopt children. Attempts to change the law have been made for several years, but the State Legislature has rejected efforts to allow unmarried or “second parent” adoption. In recent years, two women brought a suit in federal court, challenging Michigan’s adoption law. Judge Bernard Freidman cited language in Michigan’s Marriage Amendment as the reason that the adoption would stand. Earlier this year, Judge Freidman amended the case to include a direct challenge to the marriage amendment.
August of 2013: Briefs Filed. In August, Michigan Family Forum filed a friend of the court brief in U.S. District Court defending Michigan’s Marriage Amendment. The brief focuses on the optimal parenting model and cites 36 studies which highlight the unique contributions of mothers and fathers. Oral arguments in the case were held on October 16th, prompting the judge to schedule a trial for February of 2014.
February 25, 2014: Marriage on Trial On February 25, Judge Bernard Freidman will preside over a trial on the constitutionality of Michigan’s Marriage Amendment. Lawyers from Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office will argue, with the support of briefs filed by Michigan Family Forum and the Michigan Catholic Conference, that there is a rational basis for continuing to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
IMPORTANT: Expert witnesses have been identified and submitted to the court. The Attorney General has selected four highly respected researchers to testify. These witnesses will explain, based on their academic, peer reviewed work, that Michigan has a rational interest in reserving the title and status of marriage to unions of one man and one woman. This case is extremely important. Pray for the heart of the presiding judge to stand for traditional marriage and only allow adoption for traditional marriage couples. Pray for these researchers as there is a great deal of pressure on them not to stand for what we know as traditional marriage.
*Common Questions/Answers link for the battle to defend Traditional Marriage in MI.
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