Michigan’s Lesbian Attorney General Has Strong Words For Republicans Trying To Roll Back Marriage Rights
In the face of renewed attacks on LGBTQ rights, Michigan’s top attorney is sending a defiant message: marriage rights are here to stay.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel isn’t backing down as Republican lawmakers across the country—and in her own state—attempt to undermine marriage rights for same-sex couples. With a biting response aimed at GOP legislators, including Michigan State Rep. Josh Schriver, Nessel made it clear that the fight for equality is far from over.
A Growing Threat to Marriage Equality
Republicans in at least nine states have proposed measures that could weaken or challenge marriage rights for same-sex couples. Some, like Idaho and North Dakota, have already advanced resolutions urging the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 decision that legalized marriage equality nationwide. Others, including Oklahoma and Missouri, are pushing for “covenant marriage” laws that would create a separate category for heterosexual unions.
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Now, Michigan has entered the fray, with Schriver leading the charge. His proposed resolution, introduced last week, calls on the Supreme Court to dismantle Obergefell, citing so-called “religious persecution” as a consequence of the ruling. In his statement, Schriver referenced a Grand Rapids wedding venue that faced penalties in 2022 for refusing service to same-sex couples and Michigan’s policy preventing state-funded adoption agencies from discriminating against LGBTQ parents.
Schriver’s rhetoric isn’t new. In December 2024, he claimed on social media that marriage equality was “thrusted into” America by a “perverted Supreme Court ruling,” and he has drawn comparisons between same-sex marriage and sexual assault. His extreme views have already led to repercussions—earlier this month, he lost his committee assignments after promoting white supremacist conspiracy theories online.
Nessel’s Defiant Response
As Michigan’s first openly lesbian attorney general, Nessel has long been a champion for LGBTQ rights. And when Schriver attempted to undermine her community, she didn’t hold back. On social media, she posted an image of a wedding ring with the caption “Come and get it.”
Nessel has seen this fight brewing for some time. During her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, she delivered an impassioned defense of marriage equality. Holding up her left ring finger, she declared, “You can pry this wedding band from my cold, dead, gay hand!”
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She has consistently used her platform to push back against attacks on LGBTQ rights. When she was elected in 2018, she made it clear that Michigan would no longer fund adoption agencies that discriminate against same-sex couples. And in the face of growing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from far-right lawmakers, she continues to remind the public that marriage equality is non-negotiable.
Backlash Against Schriver’s Proposal
Democrats and LGBTQ advocates in Michigan have widely condemned Schriver’s resolution. State Rep. Jason Morgan, one of Michigan’s openly gay legislators, dismissed it to NBC News as a “ridiculous distraction that does not help a single Michigan family.” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel went even further, calling Schriver’s actions “deeply dangerous” and accusing him of attacking “hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who are beloved members of the community,” on X.
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Despite these Republican-led efforts, marriage equality remains the law of the land, bolstered by strong public support and legal protections. Congress passed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act in 2022 to ensure that same-sex marriages remain legally recognized. Even if Obergefell v. Hodges were overturned and marriage rights returned to the states, those that ban same-sex marriage would still be required to recognize unions performed elsewhere. But that won’t stop Schriver and those who share his views from trying to chip away at these hard-fought rights.
The Future of LGBTQ Rights in Michigan and Beyond
With outspoken leaders like Nessel, strong legal protections, and the overwhelming support of the American public, attempts to roll back marriage equality face an uphill battle. While anti-LGBTQ conservatives continue their crusade against same-sex marriage, the message from Michigan and elsewhere is clear: equality is not up for debate.
