Mich. Gay Marriage Lawsuit to Go on Trial in Feb.

Mich. Gay Marriage Lawsuit to Go on Trial in Feb. - ABC News

Stunning the courtroom, a federal judge said Wednesday he'll hold a February trial before deciding whether to overturn Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage.
U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said he won't make a decision until after hearing testimony Feb. 25 from experts on whether there's a legitimate state interest in banning gay marriage.
"I wish I could give you a definitive ruling. ... There are fact issues that have to be decided," Friedman said.
He clearly caught the lawyers on both sides off guard, as they had agreed to have him decide the issue on arguments and briefs. More than 100 people were in the courtroom, anticipating a decision in favor of gay marriage, and dozens of others watched a video feed of the proceedings in a nearby room.
A groan went up in that room when Friedman said he'll wait.
Two Detroit-area nurses in a lesbian relationship, Jayne Rowse, 49, and April DeBoer, 42, wanted to adopt each other's children, not rewrite Michigan law. But their lawsuit took an extraordinary turn a year ago when Friedman suggested they refile it to challenge the gay marriage ban.
In doing so, they argued the state's constitutional amendment that declares marriage as between a man and a woman violates the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause. That amendment was approved by 59 percent of Michigan voters in 2004.
"This amendment enshrines discrimination in the state constitution for all time," the couple's attorney, Carole Stanyar, told the judge.
Moments earlier, she said U.S. history has at times revealed a lack of humanity, "but at times we right ourselves ... and reaffirm the principle that there are no second-class citizens."
Rowse and DeBoer, who have lived together for about eight years, sat just a few steps away at the plaintiffs' table. They declined comment outside court.
"We were all hoping for an immediate ruling, but they understand it's a very long process," co-counsel Dana Nessel told reporters.

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Back Up LInks:
Federal judge: Michigan gay marriage ban will go to trial - U.S. News
Judge says Mich. gay marriage ban will go to trial


Just another case going to fight discriminaition

Many wanted an instant ruling today but im glad this is going to trial, harder to turn over and appeal if theres a real trial.

IN the end equality is coming though, the writing is on the wall and its solidified by the panic of some.
Heres the approx current picture.

Within 3 years approx 30 states could have equal rights even without SCOTUS.
I don’t know how accurate it is and its always changing as the fight for equal rights continues, but it seems from the info I gathered from news sources, legal sites, civil rights/equal rights orgs and lastly pro/anti equal rights sites this where it stands below and its the best I got for now.

Along with the fall of DOMA, the UN pushing for equal rights for gays based on HUMAN RIGHTS, and the 100s of human rights and civil rights orgs fighting this battle we have the following:


Gay marriage is legal in the following countries nationally or in certain areas like us:

Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
France
Iceland
Mexico
Netherlands:
New Zealand:
Norway
Portugal
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom:
United States:
Uruguay

13 states and DC have equal rights:

California
Connecticut
Delaware
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New York
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
19 more are in various stages of fighting or establishing a fight for equal rights

New Mexico – is granting equal rights for now and the SSC is going to decided on this month

Court Case(s) in the works to establish equal rights:

Arkansas
Kentucky
Michigan
New Jersey (Will take Effect Oct 21[SUP]st[/SUP] unless stopped)
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Utah
Virginia

Court Case(s) and Legislation in the works, which ever wins first:
ArizonaHawaii
Illinois
Nevada
Ohio


Legislation in the works:
Colorado
Florida
Oregon
this is one of the sites the seems the best to include all the info but theres too many to list.
Marriage Equality Roundup: The Push For Fifty | ThinkProgress

Pretty disappointed it wasn't resolved today. Yeah, it would be appealed, but it's already at federal court and this just delays it. Ashamed of my state on this day, as every day, until the trailer trash that litter it are no longer oppressing the rest of us. It's just complete **** to live in a county that's 85% in favor and yet SSM and adoption is illegal. That's how ghetto the rest of the state is.

I saw an earlier quote in USA Today that i think is now gone, how the courts have to step in to "protect a vulnerable population" because the legislature and voters have failed so completely. That about sums up the regard i have for the midwest in general.

Yeah all that could come to pass in February, but the couple who are the plaintiffs, and their kids, have waited long enough.

I'd like to see the evidence that 85% of the country is in favor of gay marriage. That would surprise the hell out of me.

Korimyr the Rat said:

I'd like to see the evidence that 85% of the country is in favor of gay marriage. That would surprise the hell out of me.

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yeah i believe the most ive seen is 56%

and it varies quite a bit depending on the question

when its equal rights its the highest
when its unions equal to marriage which its a little lower
when its worried with marriage in it its its lowest

but mostly they all hover around 51+%

and then if you use a smaller age bracket of course it jumps

just from july





some groups are 60+ and while thats nice that people are losing their bigotry and educating themselves its really meaningless, I couldnt care less if 90% was against it, that would just mean 90% of the people are hypocritical idiots. Just like interracial marriage, when it was ruled on in 1967 80% of the country was against it. Rights are rights.

just 5 years earlier 95% was against it and it was majority for it until the 90s! (basically 25 years later) which is so sad and pathetic.

Heh. I am the 23%. Unless my "church" doesn't count.

Korimyr the Rat said:

I'd like to see the evidence that 85% of the country is in favor of gay marriage. That would surprise the hell out of me.

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Uh i was referring to my campus, in the county that was prepared to give out licenses today. I'm comparing the enlightened part of the state to the rural area that holds the rest down. Not surprising that 2/3 of the graduates leave the midwest within a year. Nobody here can stand this state.

Having come from a rural county, i can tell you they'd be in tears if the judge had thrown out the ban today.