A Proposal to amend the state constitution to specify what can be recognized as a "marriage or similar union" for any purpose.

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Amend the state constitution to provide that "the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose."

About the measure:

• The proposal is intended to ban homosexuals from being married and keep marriage sacred for heterosexual couples.

• According to a Detroit Free Press poll, 53 percent of Michigan voters back the proposal.

• The Citizens for the Protection of Marriage, a lobbying group based in Lansing, collected about 500,000 signatures to get the amendment on the ballot.

• The Michigan House of Representatives voted down adding a marriage amendment to the state constitution on March 9.

• As it currently stands, Michigan law prohibits same-sex marriage.

• According to the 2000 Census, there are 15,368 same-sex couples in Michigan.

Find out more:

For information about why the amendment should be passed, see the American Family Association of Michigan Web site at afamichigan.org.

For more information explaining why the amendment should be voted down, check out the ACLU of Michigan's Web site at aclumich.org.