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Gay marriage perceptions changing for Michiganians

For hundreds of homosexual MSU students and several other Michiganians, enough is enough: repeal the ban on same-sex marriage already.

Fifty-seven percent of Michigan residents support gay marriage, according to a recent Glengariff Group Inc. poll of 600 registered voters. According to the group, the 13-point jump from last year’s poll comes mostly from changing responses of Republicans and Independents.

But are lawmakers responding? Well, yes. A new bill introduced last week by Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, would allow gay marriage.

The fear plaguing some activists’ minds is that Warren’s bill faces the power of a Republican supermajority, a party that has historically opposed extending marriage and legal benefits to gay couples.

Even if every Democrat in both the House and Senate voted yes, the measure is doomed without any GOP support.

Yet many are hopeful, stating that even if the bill fails it will serve as a reminder that perceptions are changing, and some of the moderate conservatives could embrace that.

Jordan Anderson, a theater senior, remains optimistic.

Though he said he isn’t planning on getting hitched anytime soon, the self-described “beach-bum” and “roller coaster junkie,” like many, said he just wishes he had that opportunity.

“Our government is supposed to be representative of us,” said Anderson, who is gay. “If a majority of Michigan already thinks (gay marriage) should be enacted, that’s a problem if it doesn’t pass.”

Elaine Cao, an social relations and policy senior said she also hopes the law goes through.

“That still blows my mind that our friends just can’t (marry,)” said Cao, an intern at the LGBT Resource Center in the Student Services Building. “It’s just crazy to me.”

Fellow social relations and policy senior Emily Cracolici, also an intern at the resource center, believes “it’s just a matter of time before people start seeing it as another human right.”

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