HOUGHTON, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Houghton County Board of Commissioners voted down 4-1 a resolution that would have recognized just two sexes – male and female.

The vote came after the Dec. 9 meeting. The resolution stated that “unknown” and “undetermined” for sex are not options that should be considered on birth, marriage and death certificates. The resolution also encouraged other counties and the state of Michigan to adopt a similar resolution.

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The Daily Mining Gazette Journal reported that only Joel Keranen voted in favor of the proposal. Keranen proposed the resolution.

“I’m not denying that there are people who struggle with gender identity. I just do not think the way our society has chosen to support these people is best,” Keranen said, according to The Daily Mining Gazette Journal. “We should find better ways to do this, and that can be a topic for another time. I’m glad that this has garnered much attention. It gives me an opportunity to explain myself and hopefully bring the people together rather than divide us.”

MyUPNow reported there was nearly four hours of public commentary about the resolution.

Houghton County voted in support of Republican Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The county had 11,181 people vote for Trump and 7,881 vote for Democrat Kamala Harris. In January, Trump ordered an executive order that stated, “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”