FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL MAKES BIZARRE STATEMENTS ABOUT MARRIAGE AND FAMILIES
Washington, DC – (Sept. 19, 2013) – Family Equality Council, the national organization that connects, supports and represents the nation’s three million parents who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and their six million children, today expressed bewilderment over statements by Michigan’s Attorney General that ignore the reality of thousands of Michigan families with parents who are LGBT.
Attorney General Bill Schuette made the statements in an official brief filed in the DeBoer v Snyder adoption and marriage equality lawsuit. In the brief, Schuette states that the purpose of marriage is “to regulate sexual relationships between men and women so that the unique procreative capacity of such relationships benefits rather than harms society.”
Family Equality Council Executive Director Gabriel Blau called the statement bizarre and misinformed, especially considering the approximately 2,700 loving parents who are LGBT, raising more than 5,000 children in Michigan.
“Allowing loving, committed couples the ability to get a marriage license or adopt their own children doesn’t stop anyone from procreating, nor does it harm society,” said Blau. “The only thing his argument accomplishes is further alienating thousands of Michiganders who simply want to raise happy, healthy families.”
Blau added, “Marriage strengthens all families and provides the legal protection and economic stability that is the hallmark of a strong family, no matter what that family looks like or how it was formed. We would be happy to introduce the Attorney General to parents all over Michigan who are being good neighbors, raising their children to be decent people, and worrying about putting food on the table — who also happen to LGBT. We think spending time with some of our families might better-inform his opinions about what is beneficial to society.”
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CONTACT: Sean Carlson | 202.550.2315│scarlson@familyequality.org