Tag Archives: Michigan

In March a federal judge ruled that Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. That ruling was stayed pending appeal but not before over 300 gay couples had married. The ACLU then filed suit on behalf of eight of those couples with a demand that the state recognize the marriages conducted during the days in which it was legal. While …

Yesterday Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a brief with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in defense of that state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Notably missing from Shuette’s brief is any mention of debunked social researcher Mark Regnerus, who was brutally slapped down by the judge who ultimately overturned the ban. While Shuette makes the usual tired procreation arguments, …

The Detroit Free Press reports: The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s motion to have a full bench hear his appeal in Michigan’s landmark gay marriage case. Schuette had petitioned for an “en banc” hearing — which means full bench — instead of the standard three-judge panel, but the court determined Monday evening …

Clip recap: “The lawyer who led the defense of Proposition 8 now says his attitudes are evolving as he plans his daughter’s lesbian wedding. Michigan officials are trying to invalidate hundreds of couples’ marriage licenses, but now those couples are fighting back. And a Judge in Ohio has issued one of the most strongly-worded rejections of a marriage ban to …

Via press release: The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit today to guarantee that the marriages of 300 same-sex couples performed last month are recognized by the state. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight same-sex couples who were married after a federal judge struck down the state’s ban and before the Sixth …

Michigan has asked for an en banc review of the marriage equality case now before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Lyle Dennison writes at SCOTUSblog: This is the first time that a state which has had its ban on such marriages struck down in a district court has asked for full court review of an appeal. Federal judges in …

“I frankly don’t understand why the judge elected to pass on a discussion of some of the very real concerns our research raised. It’s as if raising standard methodological issues on this subject is just unwelcome today, unless it’s clear that you are friendly to the political goals of the same-sex marriage movement. My study noted numerous suboptimal outcomes experienced …

The white supremacist Traditionalist Youth Network has filed an amicus brief with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage. Which certainly won’t hurt our cause. “The totality of the history of the Western and American traditions demonstrates quite clearly that same-sex conduct can be penalized,” wrote attorney Kyle Bristow, suggesting that legalized gay …

Clip recap: “Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has good news and bad news marriage in Michigan. One Missouri lawmaker is taking a stand for equality. We have more good news from national polling. And five couples in Mississippi requested marriage licenses last week. What happened next will probably not surprise you.”

Just in via White House press release: “I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government. These families will be eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages. The Governor of Michigan has made clear that the marriages that took place on Saturday were …

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says that while he considers the 300+ same-sex marriages conducted last week to be legal, he won’t allow state agencies to recognize them. Snyder acknowledged same-sex couples “had a legal marriage.” But because of the court’s stay, he added, the gay marriage ban has been restored. The governor’s move closes the door, at least for now, …

It appears that Saturday’s 300+ Michigan marriages may not be locally recognized for a very long time. Via the Detroit Free Press: The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday extended a stay on last week’s ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman that struck down the Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage. The 2-1 ruling, issued late Tuesday afternoon, …

“The honeymoon for same-sex ‘marriage’ was a short one in Michigan. Twenty-four hours after District Judge Bernard Friedman struck down the state’s marriage amendment, the 6th Circuit Court came to Michigan’s aid — ordering a halt to the ‘weddings’ that had broken out in four counties on Friday night. In some regions, clerks’ offices stayed open through the night and …

Clip recap: Michigan’s marriage ban is unconstitutional. Oklahoma couples fight back in court against an anti-gay group making misleading claims about children. A pro-equality ruling is delayed, pending appeal. But another is put in place as of now. We have some important hearings coming up very soon. And pro-equality Republicans hang on to their seats in a tight election.

The office of GOP Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is ordering state agencies to wait before recognizing the 300+ same-sex marriages that took place on Saturday but the Sixth Circuit Court issued its stay. Via the Associated Press: About 300 couples wed Saturday in four Michigan counties before a federal appeals court placed a stay on a Detroit federal judge’s decision …

Via the Associated Press: A federal appeals court order makes it unlikely Michigan’s same-sex marriages will be quickly halted. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati to freeze Friday’s decision that overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage. The court responded Saturday, saying it wants to hear from the winning side …

From the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan: As Christians and leaders in the Episcopal Church, we applaud Judge Friedman’s decision to overturn Michigan’s ban on equal marriage as a step on the right side of history. As the case of DeBoer v. Snyder continues to work its way through our judicial system, it is our hope that future judges will continue …

Via the Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s first gay marriage was performed shortly after 8 a.m. today by Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum at the historic courthouse in Mason. Glenna DeJong, 53, and Marsha Caspar, 52, both of Lansing, were married in the lobby after Byrum opened the clerk’s office at 8 a.m. and issued them a license. “We’ve been waiting …

Right here. (Tipped by JMG reader American Putz)