A song for marriage equality in Michigan

PoliticusUSA reports Michigan Is Latest State To Have Same-Sex Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional.

On Friday, a federal judge in Michigan ruled that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Much like other recent rulings in states with similar bans, US District Judge Bernard Friedman cited the Supreme Court’s rejection last June of parts of the Defense of Marriage Act while also pointing to the 14th Amendment.

That's the good news.  The bad news is that the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a stay until Wednesday late this afternoon, hours after four counties, including Washtenaw and Oakland, issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples.  I won't let that temporary setback get me down.  Instead, I'm going to dedicate the song sung in the following video to the occasion: New Zealand Parliament passes gay marriage bill -- and a love song.

As the votes are announced in the New Zealand Parliament that affirm the Definition of Marriage Amendment (allowing equal marriage rights for the gay community), spectators in the gallery break into a Maori love song which most of the Members of Parliament then join in with. Quite touching.

For my American chums who want to know more about the song being sung: "Pokarekare ana." Unofficially it is New Zealand's second national anthem. It is believed to have been communally written by Maori soldiers in training camp during World War I.