“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” — The American Declaration of Independence.

One thing the Republicans have always been adamant about is limited government, except when it comes to women making decisions concerning their own bodies and gay marriage. On these issues they seem to be fine with suppressing the rights of others and imposing their will even though polls show that their opinions are in the minority.

As with the right to free speech or the right to decide which church we attend or even the right to bear arms the freedom to choose who we love and who we would like to spend the rest of our life with is the right of every American.

Prop 2 passed 10 years ago and was designed to define marriage in Michigan’s constitution as a union between a one man and one woman. But there has never been any legitimate data or reason to deny these couples the right to marriage equality other than plain bigotry. Thirty-two states in this great nation now recognize same sex marriage and recent polls show that more than 60 percent of Americans now support gay marriage. Corporate America is also helping to lead the charge for marriage equality with 89 percent of the Fortune 500 companies including sexual orientation in nondiscrimination policies. Nine of the largest corporations in the state of Michigan have made LGBT nondiscrimination a top priority and these companies include the Ford Motor Company and the Whirlpool Corporation. Many of these companies now offer benefits to same sex couples. The world is moving forward and recognizing marriage equality, even if the religious zealots and certain members of the Republican Party are not.

In March, a federal judge ruled that Michigan’s gay marriage ban was unconstitutional and 300 gay and lesbian couples were quickly married. The sixth district court imposed a stay on the ruling thanks to a filing by our state’s attorney general Bill Schuette. Since his election in 2010 Schuette has spent millions of tax payer dollars to put forward his personal political agenda by suppressing the rights of the LGBT community, and guaranteeing state employees do not receive same sex benefits and fighting any court ruling that finds Prop 2 unconstitutional. After last week’s U.S. 6th District Circuit Court decision reinstating Michigan’s ban on same sex marriage, he is now working to ensure these marriages are dissolved and forcing his bigotry upon the people of the State of Michigan.

I remember seeing an interview with a fundamentalist Christian on CNN where they referred to gay marriage as an abomination. But the true abomination is the suppression of an individual’s right to the freedom to choose who they love and wish to spend their life with in the year 2014.

As Americans we need to stand up to this discrimination and religious fervor and extend to the gay and lesbian community the same basic freedoms that we extend to other minorities. This is the land of the free, after all.

 

William Crandell is a community activist and member of the Michigan Education Association and the Michigan Democratic Party. He is also a member of the South County Democratic Club where he has served as their communications director and as the chairperson of the SCDC Blue Tiger Community Action Committee.