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Federal Judge To Hear Challenge To Gay Marriage Ban

freep.com

There’s a hearing Thursday in Detroit before a federal judge on a legal challenge to Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions.

We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta.

Michigan voters adopted the gay marriage ban in 2006. The challenge was filed by a lesbian couple who want to be able to jointly adopt children. Right now, only one of them is legally the parent of the three kids they’re raising together, says Dana DeBoer,. 

“There’s a laundry list of things they don’t get because they don’t have two parents or I don’t get because I’m  not their legal parent,”  she says.

That includes the right to make medical decisions or enroll the kids in school.

The judge said the couple should expand their case to challenge the marriage ban.

Attorney General Bill Schuette is defending the laws. He says changing them should be up to the Legislature or voters, not a federal judge.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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