A federal judge has ruled Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.
Bernard Friedman, a U.S. District Judge issued a preliminary injunction on Friday after the state’s constitutional amendment, passed by voters in 2004, was challenged by two Hazel Park nurses. The case was concluded in a trial on March 7th.
The decision was officially released sometime after 5 P.M., a time when the majority of clerk offices which issue the marriage licenses in Michigan are closed.
Good News For Many
It’s about damn time, Michigan. Marriage for all!
— Paige Materi (@PaigeMateri) March 21, 2014
Gay marriage is now accepted in Michigan!! #sohappy #cantbelieveit — Mara Rose (@peace_mara) March 21, 2014
WE GOT GAY MARRIAGE IN MICHIGAN YAAAAAAASSSS — SASHA (@sashasovereign) March 21, 2014
So glad to hear about the gay rights judgment here in michigan — aimie popper (@a_pop_pop) March 21, 2014
Same sex marriages can seemingly start immediately when offices open on Monday. The judge denied to grant a stay even when the state of Michigan requested to have one pending appeal. With a stay, gay couples would be required to wait for the appeal process to finalize before they could marry legally. State attorneys said it would be a mistake to overturn the will of the people during the 9-day trial. The ban was approved by 59% of the voters, so Michigan Assistant Attorney General Kristin Heyse says it’s far more than a small majority of voters who oppose it.
But Not All Agree
God damn it, all these flamers are about to be flowing in to Michigan because gay marriage is legal now…
— Syed (@babradeys) March 21, 2014
That’s unacceptable RT”@Oby013: Gay marriage is legal in the state of Michigan now!!!!”
— Dfort (@_OhNoBro) March 21, 2014
Michigan will become the 18th state in the U.S. to legalize gay marriage if the judge’s ruling is upheld.
So far the states that have legalized gay marriage include: Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah (pending appeal), Illinois, Washington, Maine, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, and Minnesota.
[Photo Credit: cournteysaccophotography]
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