opinion

Editorial: A disgraceful, hurtful law

Gov. Rick Snyder, our last line of defense against the religious minority that holds the majority in the Legislature, abdicated that responsibility on Thursday by signing a package of bills allowing faith-based agencies to turn away gay and lesbian couples seeking state-supported adoptions.

Although the governor had long promised a careful review of the legislation, it took but a day for the Battle Creek native to sign the bills after passage in the Senate and concurrence in the House.

The passage in both chambers went almost exclusively along party lines — Sen. Mike Nofs and Reps. David Maturen and John Bizon, all Republicans, supported the legislation.

In explaining his decision, the governor said he wanted to continue the state's progress in finding more "forever homes" for children.

"We are focused on ensuring that as many children are adopted to as many loving families as possible regardless of their makeup," said.

Warm and fuzzy language notwithstanding, the governor sidestepped the larger question of whether the law violates the U.S. Constitution, which it almost certainly does.

It's simply illegal to use tax dollars to aid in the establishment of religion, and no rationalization, however high-minded, changes the essential fact that this law amounts to state-sanctioned discrimination.

It seems unlikely Michigan's new law would survive a promised legal challenge, and even that would be rendered moot should the U.S. Supreme Court in the coming weeks invalidate all legislative or constitutional provisions that permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

With the signing of this legislation into law, Michiganders again find their state on the wrong side of history, at odds with public opinion and any credible research on family-friendly public policy.

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics weighed in against this legislation, arguing that states shouldn't be putting religious limitations on otherwise qualified families who seek to adopt children.

It's a disgraceful, hurtful statute, and it is bitterly disappointing that our governor — an intelligent and capable executive who surely understands the futility of the GOP's cultural war — would go along with it.

The people of Michigan deserve better.