Congressman Dan Kildee Files Amicus Brief Urging U.S. Supreme Court to Strike Down Michigan's Discriminatory Ban on Marriage Equality
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) has filed an amicus curiae brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage as the High Court is set to hear historic arguments on marriage equality for several states. The brief, which was signed by 210 other Members of Congress, was organized in part by the Congressional lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Equality Caucus, of which Congressman Kildee is a Vice Chair.
"I am confident that the Supreme Court will stand on the right side of history and strike down Michigan's discriminatory same-sex marriage ban," Congressman Kildee said. "Every person, no matter who they love, has the constitutional right to marry the person that they love. Marriage equality is already recognized in the majority of the states and it's time that the Supreme Court recognizes marriage as a fundamental right for all Americans."
In April, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Obergefell, et al v. Hodges, et al, a consolidation of several cases challenging the constitutionality of four states' same-sex marriage bans. One of the consolidated cases, DeBoer v. Snyder, challenges Michigan's same-sex marriage ban.
The brief signed by Congressman Kildee and submitted to the High Court today argues that existing marriage bans, including Michigan's, serve no legitimate interest for the federal government and violate the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, commonly known as the Equal Protection Clause.
"No matter the standard applied, the state bans are unconstitutional and impair federal interests and the interests of our constituents," the brief reads. "As federal legislators who represent families across the nation, we believe that -- like DOMA -- state marriage bans deny our citizens the equal protection that the Constitution guarantees. We urge the Court to reverse the judgments below and make the Constitution's promise of equality a reality for gay and lesbian couples throughout the nation."
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