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KALAMAZOO -- Now that the campaign to pass Ordinance 1856 has succeeded, the group that worked to see it pass is disbanding, but they're not necessarily going away.Jonathon Richardson, a spokesman for One Kalamazoo says the group is  no longer needed now that the ordinance has passed.


 One Kalamazoo was formed when it became clear Ordinance 1856 would go before voters. He says KAFE, the Kalamazoo Alliance for Equality, an older group,  will continue its work whatever the next issue is, be it homelessness, hunger, or whatever comes along.


The Citizens group that opposed the Anti-discrimination ordinance has issued a statement saying they hope passage of the measure won’t result in discrimination against the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities.  It shouldn’t, the Kalamazoo ordinance specifically makes such groups exempt from the ordinance. 

Charles Ybema also says he hopes it doesn’t result in retribution against a WMU Nursing professor who appeared in one of their ads. 


   Inspired by Kalamazoo’s passage of the gay rights ordinance Tuesday, Michigan House Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes introduced a plan to overturn Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage.    Voters altered the constitution just 5 years ago to enact the prohibition. 

They would have to once again amend the constitution to allow gay couples to get married.  Byrnes cited the wide margin of victory in Kalamazoo as proof that the state is ready to reverse the ban.  

A spokesman for the Catholic Church says the Kalamazoo vote had nothing to do with marriage and attitudes have not changed that much. If the resolution clears the house, it is expected to face a long slow death by neglect in the Senate.