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Bill

HJR F

Civil rights: sexual orientation discrimination; certain references to marriage; make gender neutral. Amends sec. 1, art. X & repeals sec. 25, art. I of the state constitution.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 43 co-sponsors

Michigan constitutional amendment to remove opposite-sex marriage language and add sexual orientation anti-discrimination protections requiring voter approval.

joint resolution electronically reproduced 03/05/2025
#civilrights:sexualorientationdiscrimination #constitutionalamendments:state #familylaw:marriageanddivorce
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Bill Summary · HJR F

Legislative bill overview

This joint resolution proposes amending Michigan's state constitution to remove language that explicitly defines marriage as between a man and woman, and to add explicit protections against sexual orientation discrimination. The bill would modernize constitutional language to be gender-neutral regarding marriage while establishing sexual orientation as a protected class similar to race and religion.

Why is this important

Constitutional amendments in Michigan require voter approval and represent fundamental changes to the state's founding legal document. This proposal directly affects marriage equality recognition, employment protections, housing access, and other civil rights for LGBTQ+ individuals in the state. The changes would align Michigan's constitution with recent federal court rulings on marriage equality while potentially establishing broader anti-discrimination protections at the state level.

Potential points of contention

  • Traditional marriage definition: Opponents argue the current constitutional language reflects long-standing societal and religious definitions of marriage that should remain unchanged
  • Scope of sexual orientation protections: Disagreement over how broad anti-discrimination language should be and whether it adequately addresses concerns about religious exemptions in hiring, services, and other contexts
  • Constitutional amendment process: Questions about whether this issue warrants constitutional-level amendment versus statutory legislative action, and concerns about the amendment process itself being influenced by particular political movements

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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