Marriage Equality

Marriage Equality

By U.S. Rep. Justin Amash
Saturday, June 27, 2015

On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court of the United States of
America ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the Constitution guarantees
a right to, "Same-Sex Marriage" and below, is Third District of
Michigan U.S.Representative Justin Amash's written response
in regards to this particular and historic ruling and even though
I am not personally gay, I fully support this ruling by the U.S.
Supreme Court and I also fully agree, and fully share in, U.S.
Representative Justin Amash's thoughts, and words, below:

Throughout history, different cultures have defined marriage
according to their own customs and practices.

Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics,
and atheists do not share identical views on marriage.

In fact, significant differences regarding marriage exist
even within Christianity.

What makes marriage traditional is not its adherence to a universal
definition but rather that it is defined by personal faith, not by
government.

For thousands of years, marriage flourished without a universal
definition and without government intervention.

Then came licensing of marriage.

In recent decades, we've seen state legislatures and ballot
initiatives define marriage, putting government improperly
at the helm of this sacred institution.

Those who care about liberty should not be satisfied
with the current situation.

Government intervention in marriage presents new threats
to religious freedom and provides no advantages, for gay or
straight couples, over unlicensed (i.e., traditional) marriage.

But we shouldn't blame the Supreme Court for where things
stand.

To the extent that Americans across the political spectrum view
government marriage as authoritative and unlicensed marriage
as quaint, our laws must treat marriage—and the corresponding
legal benefits that attach—as they would any other government
institution.

So, while today's Supreme Court opinion rests upon the false
premise that government licensure is necessary to validate the
intimate relationships of consenting adults, I applaud the
important principle enshrined in this opinion: that government
may not violate the equal rights of individuals in any area in
which it asserts authority.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash • Third District of Michigan