Michigan's House Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes introduces legislation to overturn marriage ban

Only days after Kalamazoo city voters approved an anti-discrimination ordinance to protect gays, lesbians and transgender individuals, Michigan Representative Pam Byrnes, current House speaker pro tem, has filed legislation to overturn Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Marriage Equality Kentucky is attempting to do a similar thing by gathering signatures to show support for repealing Kentucky’s 2004 gay marriage ban. Marriage Equality Kentucky has not set a date to release the signatures to lawmakers.

Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, suggested during the Kalamazoo ordinance campaign that Michigan’s 2004 marriage-definition vote would face another challenge. Glenn called Byrnes’ bill “dead on arrival.”

“It’s never going to be allowed to come up for a vote, even in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives,” Glenn said.

However, Glenn could be seriously underestimating the Michigan House Speaker Pro Tempore, who is a powerful member in that chamber. The Michigan House of Representative currently has 67 Democrats and 43 Republicans.

Cia Segerlind, Byrnes’ chief of staff, said both the Kalamazoo measure and Byrnes’ House bill “deal with equality and justice for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) members.” “The success in Kalamazoo lends great momentum to this cause,” Segerlind said. “One focuses on discrimination, and one deals with the right to marry.”