While attending a National Governors Association conference Monday in Washington, D.C., Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she doesn't anticipate Michigan cities will begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples - and if they did, she wouldn't stand behind them.

"I just can't imagine that happening. It's a violation of the law," she said. "The law says - and I think this is right - that marriage is between a man and a woman."

Same-sex marriage lately has been a hot topic across the country as states such as Massachusetts and Ohio debate legislation that defines marriage. San Francisco recently stepped into the fray when the city filed a lawsuit against the state of California, saying the state's ban on gay marriage violates the California Constitution. City officials have married more than 3,000 gay couples since Feb. 12.

Granholm's statement does not reflect a change in her stance on same-sex marriage, said Liz Boyd, the governor's spokeswoman. While Granholm opposes gay marriage, she supports civil unions for same-sex couples to be protected on issues such as hospital visitation and property rights.

"The governor does not believe it is the state's business to be in people's bedrooms," Boyd said.

Boyd said Granholm and other state leaders are concerned the issue is acting as a "wedge" to divide citizens when there are other important causes - such as the economy or education - that deserve consideration.

"We should be looking at ways to protect all Michigan families rather than ways to undermine and divide them," Boyd said. "We can't afford to allow our attention to be diverted by what might be considered divisive wedge issues."

Some people believe the divisive nature of the same-sex debate is a tactic for politicians to point fingers at opposing parties or levy support.

Nat Furrow, chair of MSU's Alliance of Lesbian, Bi, Gay and Transgender Students, said supporting civil unions is an "easy way out" for politicians who don't want to take a stance on the issue.

"There are a ton of benefits that come with marriage that people with civil unions still don't get," the social relations senior said. Furrow noted that "separate but equal," a court term used to justify racial segregation before the Civil Rights Movement, is now applicable to same-sex civil unions.

"Separate but equal isn't really equal because of the social stigma that it attaches," Furrow said. "A lot of politicians feel the pressure of conservative backlash and they're being cowardly about it.

"They're worrying about their own political future instead of being concerned about the rights of citizens in their own states."

Adding to the tension at the state level is the Marriage Protection Amendment, which is making its way through the state Legislature. The bill would amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.