The Michigan Board of State Canvassers had no right to block the Michigan Marriage Amendment from appearing on the ballot. However, I worry about how seriously voters will consider this proposition. Many folks simply will vote based on whether or not they agree with same-sex couples getting married.

This amendment is taking away rights from gay and lesbian Americans and their families who already receive equal pay for equal work through domestic partner benefits offered by MSU and other state universities. These are neighbors and friends who pay taxes, who serve in the military to escape impoverished existence in rural and urban areas and who can be counted on as well as anyone else to help their neighbors when in need.

I think about the Nazi political party in Germany and their stripping away of citizenship from the Jewish in their country when they were given dictatorial powers by voters around 1933. The Nazis also persecuted and killed gay and lesbian people. Do not give the Republicans a free pass on this issue as Germans gave the Nazi party a free pass on treating Jews like second-class people. Vote no to discrimination - vote no to the Michigan Marriage Amendment.

Jim Whitaker
2004 MBA graduate