DeSana Backs Anti-Gay Marriage Resolution

LANSING, Mich. — While Michigan voters cite the economy as their top concern, a group of Republican legislators is pushing a resolution to reaffirm the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, a move critics call a distraction from more pressing issues.

State Rep. James DeSana, R-Carleton, is among seven GOP lawmakers backing a resolution condemning Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The measure seeks to affirm Michigan’s 2004 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, which remains unenforceable due to the federal ruling.

DeSana and other sponsors argue that marriage laws should be left to individual states rather than dictated by the federal government.

Obergefell “defaced the definition of marriage, undermined our God-given rights, increased persecution of Christians and confused the American family structure.” said Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, who introduced the resolution.

Despite its symbolic nature, the resolution has deepened divisions within the Republican Party. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, has distanced himself from the measure, calling it “divisive” and lacking broad support among lawmakers.

Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates have condemned the proposal as an attempt to roll back civil rights. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel criticized the resolution, with Whitmer calling it “non-negotiable.” LGBTQ+ organizations have renewed calls to repeal the state’s defunct marriage ban entirely, preempting potential challenges should federal protections weaken.

While the resolution is unlikely to advance, its introduction underscores ongoing efforts within conservative circles to revisit LGBTQ+ rights. For now, the focus on social issues rather than economic concerns risks further alienating Michigan voters more concerned with inflation, job growth, and affordability.