Civil Rights Oppose Schriver Marriage Resolution, Federal Actions

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/28/2025) The Michigan Civil Rights Commission passed a resolution to oppose HR 28, put up by Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford), and a second resolution reaffirming their right to protect the civil rights of Michiganders from federal actions.

The resolution supported legislative action or any other legal effort to remove Article 1 section 25 of the Michigan Constitution, which defines marriage in the state as “one man and one woman” and bans same-sex marriage. MCRC Chair David Worthams said it would open the door to a ban on interracial marriage if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.

“An often understated and underappreciated role that the Michigan Civil Rights Commission plays is to provide a warning when policymakers are treading a path that risks damaging Michiganders’ access to fundamental civil rights,” Worthams said.

When the Constitution was updated in 2006, it was the first time since voters approved a new document in 1963.

He said the logic used by Justice Clarence Thomas in a dissent against Obergefell in 2015 could have a bigger impact on future cases of same-sex marriage, and the same logic could be used against Loving v. Virginia from 1967, which overturned the bans against marriages between people of different races and ethnicities.

“While the focus of the associate justice’s comments seemed to be on the culture wars against the LGBTQ community, it can easily be transferred into other parts and take us way back. We cannot go back,” Worthams said.

He said without that his daughter wouldn’t exist.

“Today, I am glad this Commission unanimously raised a warning that we need to be careful to ensure that we treat all Michiganders with the inherent dignity that belongs to all human beings,” he said.

MCRC also passed a resolution to protect “marginalized and vulnerable citizens,” from attacks related to federal actions they see as undermining state protections to civil rights laws.

The resolution reaffirmed why the Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution as a safeguard against discrimination.