“Freedom to Marry is a set of resolutions and bills that will allow all citizens of the state of Michigan to have the opportunity to be married and to have all the benefits that accrue to that union,” Singh said.

Singh continued, stating the four bills will work to give Michigan residents the opportunity to vote on marriage equality, as well as working to address concerns with marriage equality in regards to housing and employment rights. The legislation also seeks to recognize same-sex marriages that occur outside of the state and will include a federal resolution asking the U.S. Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

“This package of four bill and resolutions are our way of demonstrating our values here in Michigan to allow marriage equality,” Singh said.

Irwin also took the podium to discuss the importance of same-sex legislation.

“(This is) one of those rare moments in politics and in life when we can see history changing before our eyes,” he said.

Both Irwin and Singh discussed how the political climate, both in Michigan and throughout the nation, has shifted toward the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, individuals. Other speakers, including Emily Dievendorf, the managing director of Equality Michigan, discussed the need to correct Michigan’s outdated treatment of these citizens in the face of the new majority.

“The Michigan community is very much in support of this legislation and is very excited about it,” Dievendorf said.

She added Michiganians, regardless of their sexual orientation, have shown they are ready to stand up in support of their LGBT friends and neighbors.

Republican members of the house were absent from the humid mid-morning announcement, though Singh explained to reporters and onlookers that informal conversations with GOP representatives are ongoing.

Supporters of marriage equality say they are anxious to see both how the Michigan Legislature as well as the Supreme Court handle these issues.

Emily Cracolici, a senior in social relations and policy, said she believes grassroot LGBT activism has worked its way onto the federal level and now is seeping back to state legislatures.

“It’s a telling signal of the change of the majority opinion,” she said.

Cracolici, an intern at the LBGT Resource Center at MSU, said she was excited to see the reaction to the Supreme Court decision imminent this week on social media.

Regardless of the outcomes both at the federal and state level, Cracolici said the resource center will continue to work to support students on campus. For many, coming to MSU may be the first time students experience an LBGT safe zone, according to Cracolici.

“Regardless of identity, Michigan State is an inclusive place,” she concluded.