It's time: The Michigan marriage amendment must go

Our community has sat by more than patiently for four years awaiting the final word by the Michigan Supreme Court on the reach of the discriminatory anti-marriage constitutional amendment that was enshrined in our state constitution.
The deception and glee with which the proponents of Proposal 2 first won this victory back in 2004 remains painfully in view every day.
Since that awful day when citizens voted to deny us basic rights, Between The Lines has reported on many of the wrenching stories that the threatened benefits losses could mean for our community.
But would our state's highest court dare to go where no other court in nine other states refused to go – to actually equate healthcare and LGBT family protections as being equal to marriage rights? When our opponents had claimed clear and loud in all their campaign messaging – in brochures, newsrooms and on the radio – that this amendment was offered only to "protect" marriage, we were the ones spreading fear when we said this could impact healthcare.
Would this court actually turn its back on Michigan's LGBT families?
That answer came last Wednesday, and it was an astounding 5-2 "yes."
Now, hundreds of Michigan families are scrambling to make sure that their benefits won't be lost, either for themselves, their partners, or even their children.
Tom and Dennis Patrick of Superior Township face the possibility of losing health care for their four adopted children and one foster child, all of who have dire medical needs.
A.T. Miller and his partner Craig may be forced to choose between staying in Michigan and paying out-of-pocket for health care or moving their elderly parents out of the state that has been Miller's home for his entire lifetime.
In a blatantly biased decision, the Michigan Supreme Court ignored proponents of Proposal 2 who claimed that the amendment did not intend to take away rights, ignored the pleas of families whose children may now lose medical care and ignored the precedent set by nine other courts who, in similar cases, decided that the vague language of the marriage amendment did not have anything to do with benefits of employment.
Apparently, the judicial process and the rights of citizens mean nothing in the state of Michigan.
And with that in mind, why would people choose to stay? Could these families really be blamed for packing up and leaving the state that told them that they don't even deserve health care? The truth is, many have already chosen to leave and others could never even entertain the idea of living in Michigan. This was a real wise move, considering that our economy and largest city are already seen as toxic to outsiders. As though there weren't already enough to drive people away from Michigan, the Supreme Court has provided what may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
We are sick and tired of watching the small but effective far right in this state have its way with our community and, in turn, hurt the state that many of us love. We no longer need to be patient and we can no longer afford to sit idly by. The time is now to begin planning to undo this disgraceful and denigrating decision by working to remove this so-called "marriage amendment" from the laws of our state.