NASW-Michigan Response to Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage Equality

It is time to celebrate in Michigan.

NASW-Michigan applauds the Supreme Court’s decision that marriage equality is a constitutional right for all families.  NASW-Michigan’s Executive Director, Maxine Thome was quoted as saying, “Many of us have worked for decades to have our relationships recognized, to be open about who our families are and to celebrate our love.  We will no longer need to hide our husbands and wives by calling them our ‘partners’ and ‘significant others’.  We can now have our power of attorney, our wills and our legal rights as a married couple be respected.  The list goes on and we can stand with our married heterosexual friends with equal visibility and the same rights.  We can have children and have both parents respected as parents. Most importantly we are now safer to love those that share our lives as our ‘life partners’ and now call them our wives and our husbands.”

The Supreme Court ruled in the 5-4 decision that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States, which included overturning the Michigan ban. The Obergefell v. Hodges case involved several other cases from four states, including one that originated in Michigan nearly four years ago when Metro Detroiters April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse filed a lawsuit against the State of Michigan in an attempt to jointly adopt each other’s children.

NASW has long been a supporter of same-sex marriage. NASW joined the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association and other organizations in an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court urging the justices to make the historic decision they issued today.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, in the closing paragraph to today’s ruling said, "It is demeaning to lock same-sex couples out of a central institution of the Nation’s society, for they too may aspire to the transcendent purposes of marriage...

"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."

As social justice advocates, we take time to celebrate this victory for our LGBT brothers and sisters, and know that our advocacy work is not done.

Check out the full opinion here:

NASW National Statement - http://www.socialworkblog.org/advocacy/2015/06/6622/

Statement from Governor Rick Snyder

“Same-sex marriage has been a divisive issue in Michigan and across our country. Recognizing that there are strong feelings on both sides, it is important for everyone to respect the judicial process and the decision today from the U.S. Supreme Court. Our state government will follow the law and our state agencies will make the necessary changes to ensure that we will fully comply.

“Let’s also recognize while this issue has stirred passionate debate, we now should focus on the values we share. With this matter now settled, as Michiganders we should move forward positively, embracing our state’s diversity and striving to treat everyone with the respect and dignity they deserve.”