As many of you know, Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban was overturned by U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman . This ruling is a victory for the state of Michigan, especially our LGBT citizens and their families. Couples rushed to courthouses in Ingham, Washtenaw, Oakland and Muskegon counties before an emergency stay was granted.

As I have listened to news coverage about this marriage ban, there is one rhetorical issue. Marriage is marriage. To call a same-sex couple’s wedding a “same-sex” wedding makes it appear as if their marriage is different than a marriage for a heterosexual couple.

In the Netherlands,  same-sex couples have been able to get married since 2001.  Instead of saying that they ‘legalized’ same-sex marriage, the Dutch say that they opened marriage to same-sex couples. To some, it may not matter how we talk about marriage equality. However, by calling it same-sex marriage, we are continue to mark LGBT couples as “others” and less than a straight couple.

Moving forward, Attorney General Bill Schuette  has already filed an appeal. For some, the 2004 marriage ban should stay enshrined as law. At the time, the citizens in Michigan voted to keep same-sex couples from marrying.

The voices of the citizens today should be heard. Here’s what is left out of that argument: if we voted today, the ban would not pass. Nearly 60 percent of Michigan citizens are in favor of marriage equality. Members of my own family voted in favor of the ban ten years ago, but informed me this weekend that if they could recast their vote, they would have opposed the ban. Ten years ago, my family wanted the religious community to be able to protect their definition of marriage. However, in the time since the ban was put in place, they have come to see religious marriage as separate from legal marriage. Now, they believe that all couples should have access to the same protections that they and their spouses enjoy.

I grew up in a Catholic household. I went to church every Sunday. I really do understand the religious argument against same-sex marriage.

But we also must consider that as a nation, we have tied some very important rights to marriage. Yes, married couples enjoy tax breaks that unmarried couples do not. However, marriage dictates some even more important rights. All couples should be able to visit each other in the hospital if one is ill. All couples should be able to jointly adopt children.

Furthermore, while I do respect people’s religious beliefs, people of faith should not be able to use the Bible, the Torah, the Quran or any other religious text to justify discrimination against another human being. Even if people of faith do not want same-sex couples married in their houses of worship, those same-sex couples should still be able to enter into a marriage that is recognized by the government.

Jillian Pius,

Social relations and policy senior,

MSU College Democrats vice president