By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
(Lansing, MI) – Supporters of same-sex marriage plan to rally in front of the state Capitol tonight. The rally is timed to follow an expected decision by the California Supreme Court on same-sex marriage.
Organizers say the rally will take place regardless of whether California's high court upholds or rejects a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. Michigan has a similar ban on place. An amendment to the Michigan Constitution was approved by voters in 2004 by a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent.
Robert Van Kirk is one of the organizers of the state Capitol rally. He says the ban ignores the constitutional rights of the estimated 2 to 10 percent of the population that's gay. He says the founding fathers of the United States promoted majority rule with minority rights, but that ideal has been tragically lost in this situation.
Reversing Michigan's ban on gay marriage would require voters to overturn the amendment to the state constitution.