Credit:The World Flag Database

(CPOD) Jul. 14, 2004 - Voters in Michigan would support constitutional changes to forbid wedlock for gays and lesbians, according to a poll by EPIC/MRA. 61 per cent of respondents would vote in favour of an amendment that would ban same-sex marriages in the state.

Marriage certificates were issued to same-sex couples by local governments in the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and New York earlier this year. On May 17, the state of Massachusetts allowed gay and lesbian partners to apply for marriage licenses, the first state-sanctioned homosexual weddings in the United States.

Respondents in Michigan are split over the establishment of civil unions—currently available only in the state of Vermont—which would give same-sex partners some of the legal rights of married couples such as inheritance, insurance and hospital visiting privileges. 43 per cent of respondents favour such arrangements, while 36 per cent would allow no legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples.

On Jul. 5, a group called Citizens for the Protection of Marriage submitted more than 475,000 signatures to put the issue to a statewide vote in Michigan. At least 317,757 signatures must be valid for the matter to be added to the Nov. 2 election ballot.

On Jul. 10 in his traditional radio address, U.S. president George W. Bush renewed his call for a federal constitutional amendment to block such unions, saying that "American democracy, not court orders, should decide the future of marriage in America." Today, the U.S. Senate voted 50 to 48 to end deliberations on the issue.

Polling Data

Would you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage?

Do you think same-sex partners should be allowed to marry, to establish civil unions or neither?

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