LGBT groups gear up for ballot battle
By Kris Hamel
Detroit
Lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities and
their allies in Michigan are geared up for a big battle. The
newly formed Coalition for a Fair Michigan (CFM) is preparing
to defeat a reactionary amendment to the state constitution
that would not only ban same-sex marriage, but also ban civil
unions and domestic partner benefits.
An anti-gay group called Citizens for the Protection of
Marriage turned in over 482,000 petition signatures on July 5
to the state's election commission to put the proposed
amendment on the November ballot. This group was spearheaded by
right-wing Bush administration supporter Marlene Elwell.
Elwell reportedly paid a petitioning busi ness up to $3 for
each signature collected.
The amendment reads: "To secure and preserve the benefits of
marriage for our society and for future generations of
children, 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." Domestic partner benefits would be taken away
from public sector workers in several municipalities and
stripped from workers at some corporations.
LGBT and allied activists are launching a statewide civil
rights campaign to defeat the amendment. Member orga nizations
of CFM include the University of Michigan Graduate Employees
Organization--AFT Local 3550, the Triangle Foundation,
Stonewall Bar Association, Pride at Work Michigan and Workers
World Party. For more information visit
www.coalitionforafairmichigan.org or call Workers World Party
at (313) 831-0750.
Reprinted from the July 29, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
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under a Creative
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