Michigan GOP lawmaker says gay marriage should be 'illegal again'

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Dec 2, 2024

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LANSING, Mich. — Republican Michigan state Rep. Josh Schriver said Monday that gay marriage should be "illegal again," voicing opposition to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that set the standard for the nation and spurred same-sex weddings across the country nine years ago.

Schriver of Oxford made his statement on the social media platform X, 27 days after the Nov. 5 election, in which the Michigan GOP won back control of the state House, and 30 days before their majority takes office.

Because gay marriage is legal in Michigan and elsewhere through a court ruling, Schriver can't alter the policy in his position in the state House. But his remarks likely shine light on how one member of the new majority caucus in the House will approach LGBT legislation.

"Make gay marriage illegal again," Schriver wrote Monday. "This is not remotely controversial, nor extreme."

However, he received a swift backlash from Michigan Democrats, including Attorney General Dana Nessel, who previously represented the two Hazel Park women who were part of a landmark lawsuit that opened the door for all same-sex couples to legally marry in the United States.

Nessel is also married to a woman, Alanna Maguire. The couple married in 2015.

"Please explain how dissolving my marriage, or that of the hundreds of thousands of other same-sex couples living in America, provides a benefit to your constituents or anyone else," Nessel wrote on X in response to Schriver Monday. "You’re not interested in helping Michiganders. You want only to hurt those you hate. Shame on you."

In addition, Rep. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, who also is gay, posted on social media that Schriver was "saying my marriage to the man I love should be illegal."

"This is definitely both controversial and extreme, along with anti-family," Morgan said. "I grew up believing I'd never be able to get married and I'm not going back."

In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the country on June 26, 2015, citing the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"The court now holds that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry," wrote then-Justice Anthony Kennedy. "No longer may this liberty be denied."

Unlike in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court now has a 6-3 conservative majority.

Asked why he wants to ban gay marriage, Schriver, who's in his first House term, responded to The Detroit News by referencing a series of Bible passages.

"Jesus defines marriage as between a man and a woman," Schriver wrote, while citing verses in the book of Matthew.

In a text message Monday evening, Schriver noted the U.S. Supreme Court has "the power to overturn a past ruling."

Schriver also posted on social media Monday a 2004 clip of Democrat Barack Obama discussing marriage being "between a man and a woman."

"America only 'accepted' gay marriage after it was thrusted into her by a perverted Supreme Court ruling," Schriver wrote in a comment on the video.

Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage in 2012, while he was president.

Schriver, who won a second term in November with 68% of the vote, has made controversial comments in the past on social media. In February, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, stripped Schriver of his office staff and budget and committee assignment for sharing a racist population conspiracy theory on social media.

His posts about gay marriage Monday came after another message on Nov. 25, in which he said he was turning off his social media devices for seven days and going on a trip with family.

_____