Michigan
STATUS: Anti-relationship recognition constitutional amendment
TAKE ACTION: State activists are working toward fairness for all of Michigan's families by overturning a constitutional amendment that prohibits any form of family status for same-sex couples in the state.
HISTORY: In 2004, anti-gay forces in Michigan pushed through Michigan State Proposal 04-2, a constitutional amendment that excludes same-sex couples from marriage and prohibits same-sex couples from attaining any form of legal family status. This discriminatory amendment was used to take away even the limited protections offered from families when Michigan's public colleges and universities were barred from offering health and other benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of employees.
GROUPS ACTIVELY WORKING ON MARRIAGE:
- Equality Michigan works to achieve full equality and respect for all people in the state of Michigan regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
- Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide.
- Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.
POLLING DATA: Public opinion on marriage is shifting in Michigan, where 56% of residents now support marriage. (Michigan State University's State of the State Survey, November 2012)
NUMBER OF SAME-SEX COUPLES: According to The Williams Institute's analysis of the 2010 U.S. Census, 14,598 same-sex couples are living in Michigan, representing 3.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.
Blog Posts Related to Michigan
New polls demonstrate majority support for marriage in Arizona, Michigan and Virginia
This week, new polls were released demonstrating majority support for the freedom to marry in three states where same-sex couples currently do not have the freedom to marry. Check out the inspiring results from Arizona, Michigan, and Virginia!
Tribal council of Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians approves marriage statute
This week, the tribal council of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, based in Michigan, approved a statute that would extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples in the tribe. The tribe would become the third tribal nation to respect and perform marriages for same-sex couples.
Polling continues to demonstrate impact of President Obama’s support for marriage
Nearly a month after President Barack Obama voiced his support for the freedom to marry, polls across the country continue to demonstrate the positive impact that his statement has had on public opinions on marriage.
Resources Related to Michigan
Pew Poll Finds Growing Support for Freedom to Marry Among Evangelicals, Majority Support Among Youth
A comprehensive Pew poll found majority support for the freedom to marry among young people, college graduates and Catholics, with growing support among all other religious categories.
Party Principles: Support for the Freedom to Marry by State and National Political Parties
A listing of both state and national political parties that have made strong statements in support of the freedom to marry.
Michigan Census Snapshot
Demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Michigan.