21 Feb 2014 Pastors Join Together to Protect Traditional Marriage in Michigan

Project 21 member Stacy Swimp is set to join with over 100 black pastors from the Detroit area to denounce the intent of a pending court case to effectively undermine the voting rights of Michigan citizens.

Stacy and the pastors are scheduled to hold their press conference on Monday, February 24 at 10:00AM eastern at the First Baptist World Changers Church (22575 West Eight Mile Road, Detroit).

In the case of DeBoer v. Snyder, Judge Bernard Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is set to determine the constitutionality of the Michigan Marriage Protection Amendment that was passed by Michigan voters in 2004.  Arguments are expected to focus on whether or not the Amendment violates the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

While the DeBoer case originally dealt only with a lesbian couple seeking to adopt each other’s children, Judge Friedman determined that the case could be expanded to challenge for the Marriage Protection Amendment.  That amendment was added to the state’s constitution in 2004 after being approved by 59 percent of Michigan voters.

Commenting on the case, Stacy said:

Regarding marriage protection, the issue was resolved by Michigan voters a decade ago.  A majority of voters in our state decided to take a stand for marriage being solely between a man and a woman.  But this case might allow Judge Friedman to overturn the will of Michigan voters.

In a Detroit Free Press poll taken in September of 2004, two-thirds of black voters supported Michigan’s Marriage Protection Amendment.  Election results showed that a majority of voters in the cities of Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and Benton Harbor — the major population centers for black voters — all voted in favor of the amendment.

Additionally, the Reverend Dr. Roland A. Caldwell of Burnette Inspirational Ministry called the lawsuit of the amendment an “unjust threat to our voting rights.”