LANSING, Mich. — Several Republican lawmakers in Michigan have introduced a resolution calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the landmark 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The resolution seeks to have the court overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that ruled state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, and return the issue of marriage equality to individual states.
Introduced on Tuesday, the resolution is led by Representative Josh Schriver and other members of Michigan’s Republican House caucus. Schriver argues that the Supreme Court’s decision a decade ago to legalize same-sex marriage redefined the “sacred institution” of marriage and infringed on the religious beliefs of many Michigan residents, particularly Christians.
“Ten years ago, the United States Supreme Court redefined the sacred institution of marriage,” Schriver said in a statement. “This decision deprived children of a fundamental right to be born and raised by a mother and a father.” Schriver, who cites his religious convictions as the primary motivator for his stance, insists that marriage, as defined by Christianity, is a covenant between a man and a woman, intended to glorify God and produce children.
Schriver also expressed concern that the legalization of same-sex marriage has opened the door to what he views as further challenges to traditional family values, invoking controversial references to other groups such as polygamists and those with “minor-attracted” tendencies.
The proposal has sparked strong reactions, particularly from Democratic lawmakers and LGBTQ+ advocates. Senator Jeremy Moss, Michigan’s first openly gay state senator, expressed frustration with the resolution, accusing its supporters of perpetuating harmful stereotypes. “It’s a very challenging thing to have to hear,” Moss said, “to be continually maligned as a community when we’re community members too… all we want to do is raise a family of our own and be left alone about it.”
The push to revisit Obergefell comes despite the fact that Michigan voters rejected a same-sex marriage ban in 2004, when a statewide ballot initiative amended the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Schriver and other Republicans argue that the court’s decision in 2015 disregarded the will of the people.
In contrast, opponents of the resolution argue that Obergefell should remain law, and that the fight for marriage equality is far from over. A small group of protesters gathered at the statehouse on Tuesday to voice their opposition to the resolution, chanting “love is love” and “hate won’t win.” Heidi Miller, one of the protesters, emphasized that while she and others share religious beliefs, they do not believe that those beliefs should infringe upon others’ rights. “We are Christians, we believe in the principles of Jesus, but we also support others with other faiths,” Miller said. “But when someone else’s belief infringes on basic rights, that’s when it goes too far.”
The resolution must pass through committee before being voted on by the full House. However, it’s important to note that even if the resolution is approved at the state level, it would have no immediate legal effect. Overturning Obergefell would require action by the U.S. Supreme Court. Some justices, including Justice Clarence Thomas, have publicly expressed interest in revisiting the ruling.
As this debate continues to unfold in Michigan, the broader conversation about same-sex marriage remains a deeply polarizing issue, with strong divisions on both sides. Proponents of marriage equality vow to continue fighting for the protection of same-sex couples’ rights, while opponents remain steadfast in their calls for a return to traditional definitions of marriage.
