By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
LANSING – On Wednesday, April 27, Lansing's lawmakers will be hearing from a new contingent in the struggle for equal rights for LGBTs and our families.
College students.
Students for Gay Marriage, an organization begun by organizers at Lansing Community College, will hold the first of what they hope to be eleven rallies – one in every state that has passed a ban on equal marriage rights.
"We're trying to form a movement throughout the U.S. with all of the campuses nationwide with LGBT groups," said SGM President Chad House, 31, a vocal straight ally of the LGBT civil rights movement.
"We want to raise awareness with the public and officials that this is a cause we believe in."
Since their beginning earlier this month, SGM has already made an impact. Scheduled speakers for the April 27 event on the east lawn of the Capitol Building include Senator Liz Brater (D) from Ann Arbor, Rep. Chris Kolb (D) from Ann Arbor, the Rev. Dr. Charles Booker-Hirsh of the Northside Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, Greg Varnum, an intern from Triangle Foundation in Detroit and Jon Hoadley of the Michigan State Alliance, MSU's LGBT support organization.
According to House, the group has had contacts with organizers from
ontamend.com and other national LGBT civil rights organizations as well as the University of Michigan's Office of LGBT Affairs.
In addition to their state and national organizing, the group is busy putting together a charter for recognition as a Lansing Community College student group. Until that happens, "we're working outside of the college on our own," said House.
Asked why a heterosexual, non-traditional college student would create time in his busy schedule to advocate for equal marriage rights, House said the answer is simple.
"I believe in equal rights for everyone," House said. "I'm to the point where it's not about me. I look at it as a humanitarian thing, and that everyone should be treated right under the law. I truly don't believe that our current marriage laws do that."
