Lucas County commissioners support marriage equality in Ohio

Campaign manager Michael Premo speaks about a resolution the Lucas County Commissioners are introducing to support "Why Marriage Matters Ohio" in its effort to achieve equality in Ohio's marriage laws for same-sex couples. County commissioner Pete Gerken, right, listens.

The Lucas County Board of Commissioners today approved a resolution in support of “Why Marriage Matters Ohio,” in its effort to achieve equality in Ohio’s marriage laws for same-sex couples.

Commissioners presented the resolution during a news conference held at One Government Center prior to their 10 a.m. commission meeting.

“Why Marriage Matters is an issue that everyone can touch upon,” Commissioner Pete Gerken said during the news conference. “We’ve seen petitions for gambling, petitions for the right to bargain; so I think its right to support a petition for the right for someone to marry the person they love.”

Why Marriage Matters Ohio, kicked off in Toledo in April, and is part of a nation-wide public education campaign to build support for marriage equality, said campaign manager Michael Premo, who also spoke during the event. The national campaign started in September.

“This resolution is the first in the state,” Mr. Premo said. The organization considered putting the issue of same-sex marriage on this year’s ballot, but organizers believed they needed to rally more support first, Mr. Premo said.

“We’ll try to put it on the ballot in 2016 if the Supreme Court hasn’t already taken care of it,” he said.