Bernard Friedman
How the Road to Federal Marriage Equality Ran Through Michigan
When Keith Orr first introduced Martin Contreras as his husband at the neighborhood gay bar they owned together during Sunday brunch in March 2014, he paused [...]Read more about How the Road to Federal Marriage Equality Ran Through Michigan
What Marriage Equality Looks Like in 2016
BY BTL STAFF A 2016 Survey of Contemporary Couples & Current Wedding Trends reveals that same-sex weddings have become more elaborate. The amount that LGBT [...]Read more about What Marriage Equality Looks Like in 2016
EQMI Political Mixer Raises Concerns
It's been two years since Equality Michigan hosted a major fundraising event, and while the organization's Fall reception – a political mixer – on Dec. 2 [...]Read more about EQMI Political Mixer Raises Concerns
Couple's Great Love Makes History, In More Ways Than One
By Amy Lynn Smith Zack Ismail, left, and Ken Siver, right. Ken Siver and Zack Ismail's eyes met across a crowded dance floor 18 years ago. And the rest, as [...]Read more about Couple's Great Love Makes History, In More Ways Than One
Top Five Michigan LGBT Stories Of 2015
BY AJ TRAGER Newborn Girl Of Local Lesbian Couple Experiences Religious Discrimination Bay Windsor Contreras, daughter of Jami Contreras and Krista [...]Read more about Top Five Michigan LGBT Stories Of 2015
DeBoer-Rowse Legal Team Finally Gets Paid
BY BTL STAFF DETROIT – The state of Michigan are paying nearly $2 million to the lawyers who fought for marriage equality in the state. Gov. Snyder and [...]Read more about DeBoer-Rowse Legal Team Finally Gets Paid
I Will Love You Forever'
The DeBoer-Rowse wedding Saturday night was simply magical. The excitement and energy was contagious as each guest arrived, grinning and enthusiastically [...]Read more about I Will Love You Forever'
Exclusive Interview: Judge Friedman Discusses DeBoer v. Snyder Trial
Federal Judge Bernard Friedman with Jayne and April after officiating their wedding Aug. 22. The couple hold up there marriage license, the legal document they [...]Read more about Exclusive Interview: Judge Friedman Discusses DeBoer v. Snyder Trial
DeBoer-Rowse Children Share Vows At Wedding
BY AJ TRAGER 1234567 SOUTHFIELD – After 15 years of devoted love, changing diapers, balancing two overnight shifts and challenging the state's ban on [...]Read more about DeBoer-Rowse Children Share Vows At Wedding
An Accidental Ally: Barb Byrum
Minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that marriage was legal for same-gender couples in the entire country, Barb Byrum had a couple before her who [...]Read more about An Accidental Ally: Barb Byrum
June 26: Affirmations Of Love And Family In Braun Court
BY AJ TRAGER 1234567 ANN ARBOR – June 26 will officially be known as a day of love, devotion, sacrifice, fidelity and above all else family. In an [...]Read more about June 26: Affirmations Of Love And Family In Braun Court
You Can't Win A Case That You Never File'
BY AJ TRAGER DETROIT – In 2011, when April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse approached Dana Nessel for legal counsel they primarily sought to change Michigan's [...]Read more about You Can't Win A Case That You Never File'
First Michigan Same-Sex Couple To Receive Pension Benefits
BY AJ TRAGER Kate Wade and Eileen Brandies, one of the 323 couples married on March 22, 2014, hiking near Lake Louise in Canada. ANN ARBOR — "It was the first [...]Read more about First Michigan Same-Sex Couple To Receive Pension Benefits
Same-Sex Couples Married In Michigan Celebrate Anniversaries
By AP AND BTL STAFF DETROIT – Families and friends gathered Sunday in four Michigan counties to celebrate the anniversary of over 300 same-sex couples who wed [...]Read more about Same-Sex Couples Married In Michigan Celebrate Anniversaries
2015 LGBT Wedding Expo Embodies Hope
BY AJ TRAGER 12345678910111213 SOUTHFIELD – This year the BTL Ultimate LGBT Wedding and Anniversary Expo was held on the anniversary weekend of [...]Read more about 2015 LGBT Wedding Expo Embodies Hope
Say 'I Do' And Support Equality At This Year's LGBT Wedding Expo
By BTL Staff The 2015 Ultimate LGBT Wedding and Anniversary Expo March 21 at the Southfield Civic Pavilion comes at a historic crossroad. As we celebrate [...]Read more about Say 'I Do' And Support Equality At This Year's LGBT Wedding Expo
National Progress On Marriage Equality
BY AJ TRAGER In the past year the United States has seen a large shift in marriage equality and the momentum isn't letting up – it's only getting stronger. [...]Read more about National Progress On Marriage Equality
Michigan Dems Introduce Legislation Seeking Marriage Equality
BY BTL STAFF Rep. Jeremy Moss, Southfield, announces an effort of Michigan House Democrats and Michigan Senate Democrats to overturn Michigans ban on same-sex [...]Read more about Michigan Dems Introduce Legislation Seeking Marriage Equality
Love Is Love: First Couples To Marry In The Mitten
BY AJ TRAGER AND BTL STAFF Oakland County Clerk notarizes one of the over 140 couples that she married March 22, 2014. BTL file photo: Andrew Potter One year [...]Read more about Love Is Love: First Couples To Marry In The Mitten
Same-Sex Marriages: One Year Later
By BTL Staff BTL Photo: Andrew Potter In honor of the one year anniversary of Judge Bernard Friedman's overturning of the Michigan same-sex marriage ban, [...]Read more about Same-Sex Marriages: One Year Later
Funding Marriage Equality Right Now
By Keith Orr To all the same-sex couples who got married last March 22, and all the same-sex couples who have gotten married out-of-state, and all the same-sex [...]Read more about Funding Marriage Equality Right Now
Looming Dilemma For Upcoming Historic Marriage Case
By Lisa Keen Plaintiffs April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse are accompanied by their attorneys Dana Nessel, Ken Mogill and Carole Stanyar at the close of the trial [...]Read more about Looming Dilemma For Upcoming Historic Marriage Case
Wedding Bells For Michigan Grow Louder
This June the U.S. Supreme Court will finally decide whether to extend full marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide, and it will be Michigan's DeBoer v. [...]Read more about Wedding Bells For Michigan Grow Louder
Wedding Expo Returns During Pivotal Year For Marriage Equality
By BTL Staff Dancing, music, delicious food and a party atmosphere will greet the hundreds of people coming out to the 2015 Ultimate LGBT Wedding and [...]Read more about Wedding Expo Returns During Pivotal Year For Marriage Equality
Snyder: Michigan Will Recognize 300 Same-Sex Marriages
BY AJ TRAGER LANSING – Gov. Snyder issued a surprise statement Wednesday, a day earlier than the 5 p.m., Feb. 5 deadline he had to order an appeal of the [...]Read more about Snyder: Michigan Will Recognize 300 Same-Sex Marriages
Schuette's Cowardly Plea To Discriminate
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's op-ed in Sunday's Detroit Free Press attempted to defend his decision to continue fighting marriage equality all the [...]Read more about Schuette's Cowardly Plea To Discriminate
Same-Sex Marriage Goes To The Supreme Court
By AJ Trager April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse with their lawyer Carole M Stanyar. WASHINGTON D.C. – The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has granted [...]Read more about Same-Sex Marriage Goes To The Supreme Court
Marriage Of 300 Same-Sex Couples Ruled Valid In Michigan
BY AJ TRAGER Plaintiffs Marsha Caspar and Glenna DeJong in front of the Eastern Michigan District Court in Detroit on Aug. 21. BTL Photo: AJ Trager DETROIT – [...]Read more about Marriage Of 300 Same-Sex Couples Ruled Valid In Michigan
Fostering Children Only Temporary Bandage To Same-Sex Adoption Restrictions In Michigan
BY AJ TRAGER MICHIGAN – Three years ago, when the plaintiffs in the Michigan same-sex marriage case decided to petition the state's law on second-parent [...]Read more about Fostering Children Only Temporary Bandage To Same-Sex Adoption Restrictions In Michigan
Long Distance Love: Crossing Over The Pond
BY AJ TRAGER Tom Toon (L) and Anthony Shakeshaft (R) showing off their marker from Fall of 2013 in Washtenaw county after the initial DeBoer ruling. They would [...]Read more about Long Distance Love: Crossing Over The Pond
A Year In Michigan Marriage
BY AJ TRAGER MICHIGAN – This year saw big advances in the DeBoer v Snyder case as it moved through the federal courts. April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse began [...]Read more about A Year In Michigan Marriage
Mich-issippi Burning: Marriage Equality, Anti-Gay Animus and Majoritarian Politics
By Peter J. Hammer JURIST Guest Columnist Peter J. Hammer, of Wayne State University Law School, discusses the socioeconomic disparities that gay, lesbian, [...]Read more about Mich-issippi Burning: Marriage Equality, Anti-Gay Animus and Majoritarian Politics
Michigan Prepares For 6th Circuit Decision
BY AJ TRAGER Michigan Equalitys Sommer Foster and Gina Calcagno from Michigan For Marriage, discuss the possible scenarios on the horizon once the 6th Circuit [...]Read more about Michigan Prepares For 6th Circuit Decision
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Of The 2014 Michigan Midterm Election
Candidate elect U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, re-elected for Michigan Attorney General, Bill Schuette and candidate elect for the 98th district in the MI House and [...]Read more about The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Of The 2014 Michigan Midterm Election
Impact On The Kids, Totten Talks Harms Of Same-Sex Adoption Ban
BY AJ TRAGER Mark Totten with Kathy Derbyshire, Lisa Malburg and Johnny and Daniel Persyn discussing the significant harms a ban on same-sex adoption has on [...]Read more about Impact On The Kids, Totten Talks Harms Of Same-Sex Adoption Ban
Races To Watch On Election Night
BY AJ TRAGER Democratic candidate for Governor Mark Schauer with his running mate Lisa Brown. MICHIGAN – Michigan takes to the polls Nov. 4 to vote for the [...]Read more about Races To Watch On Election Night
All Eyes On Michigan As SCOTUS Refuses To Hear Marriage Equality Cases
Jayne Rowse, left, and April DeBoer at the 6th Circuit Courthouse in Cincinnati, Ohio Aug. 6, where the DeBoer v Snyder Michigan marriage case was heard along [...]Read more about All Eyes On Michigan As SCOTUS Refuses To Hear Marriage Equality Cases
Brown Blasts Snyder On Marriage Ban
A record number of candidates spoke to those gathered at the LGBT Caucus at the Michigan Democratic Convention on Aug. 23 in Lansing. Oakland County Clerk and [...]Read more about Brown Blasts Snyder On Marriage Ban
Washtenaw Residents To Rally Or Protest
By BTL Staff ANN ARBOR – The Jim Toy Community Center will host a rally or a protest on the day the 6th Circuit Court announces its decision in the DeBoer v. [...]Read more about Washtenaw Residents To Rally Or Protest
GAGG And LGBT: Gearing Up For November
By AJ Trager Kalamazoo attorney Mark Totten, Democratic candidate for Michigan attorney general. BTL photo: AJ Trager The following article has been updated [...]Read more about GAGG And LGBT: Gearing Up For November
Arguments For Right To Stay Married Heard In Caspar v Snyder
AJ Trager DETROIT – Federal Judge Mark A. Goldsmith, of the Eastern District of Michigan, heard testimony on Aug. 21 from ACLU of Michigan Cooperating [...]Read more about Arguments For Right To Stay Married Heard In Caspar v Snyder
It Doesn't Have To Be 'Michigan Versus LGBT People'
A Schauer/Totten/Peters leadership team would work towards enacting basic civil rights protections in employment, housing, public accommodations and family [...]Read more about It Doesn't Have To Be 'Michigan Versus LGBT People'
Michigan Marriage Trial: What Will Happen Aug. 6?
By Jay Kaplan Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer with their children at home in Hazel Park. The couple's lawsuit against the state of Michigan resulted in [...]Read more about Michigan Marriage Trial: What Will Happen Aug. 6?
Same-Sex Couples And The Marriage Penalty
By Michael Einheuser The June 2013 U.S. Supreme Court's ruling struck down one section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), but upheld another section [...]Read more about Same-Sex Couples And The Marriage Penalty
Diverse Support For Same-Sex Couples In Michigan's Marriage Ban Challenge
By BTL Staff DETROIT – In 31 unique amicus briefs submitted Tuesday to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the 6th Circuit, scores of Republican leaders, businesses, [...]Read more about Diverse Support For Same-Sex Couples In Michigan's Marriage Ban Challenge
DeBoer-Rowse Couple To Speak At Holland Pride
A lesbian couple that prompted the legal battle over same-sex marriage and adoption rights in Michigan will be coming to Holland on June 28 to help celebrate [...]Read more about DeBoer-Rowse Couple To Speak At Holland Pride
Second Parent Adoption Forum
The Federal Sixth Circuit Court in Cincinnati will be hearing arguments this summer not only on the right of Michigan same-sex couples to marry, but also on [...]Read more about Second Parent Adoption Forum
