In April, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, on behalf of eight couples that were married in March, filed a lawsuit against the state arguing that because the couples are legally married in the state, they are entitled to all of the protections of marriage and that those protections cannot be taken away.
On Aug. 21, arguments were heard before Federal Judge Mark. A. Goldsmith of the Eastern District of Michigan. Marsha Caspar and Glenna DeJong were the first couple married on March 22, the day after Friedman ruled on the DeBoer case.
"We just want to be treated equally," DeJong said before the trial. "I truly don't understand people's rabid resistance to treating each other equally and with respect. We waited 27 years to get married, not by choice, but by exclusion – we simply weren't allowed to marry."
The state's decision to not recognize same-sex marriage hurts children everyday. Two of the couples have kids; under current state law, both parents are prohibited from being listed as legal guardians of the children. These instances have significant effects on children and come with emotional confusion, uncertainty and insecurity.
Mid-November, Gov. Snyder filed a brief requesting that the marriage licenses be voided due to the 6th Circuit ruling in March. No ruling has yet to be made by Goldsmith.
