Politics & Government
LGBT Community Members React to Supreme Court DOMA, Prop 8 Decisions at Affirmations in Ferndale
The court rules the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and allows to stand a lower court ruling striking down California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage.
Daniel Lai contributed to this report.
Members of the LGBT community from throughout Metro Detroit gathered Wednesday morning at Affirmations in Ferndale to hear a pair of historic United States Supreme Court rulings related to same-sex marriage.
First, the court ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by states, is unconstitutional. In the second ruling, it allowed to stand a lower court ruling that struck down California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage.
[Stay tuned to Patch for more local news and reactions to the rulings!]
The assembled crowd expressed happiness about the decisions but said much work still needs to be done to achieve equality.
"Because Ferndale is such a center for LGBT couples, I think (the rulings are) going to be empowering and will encourage people to make local change," said Lisa Schmidt of Ferndale, who is a member of Affirmations Faith Alliance.
The decisions come the same week lawmakers in Lansing introduced a set of bills that would amend Michigan's constitution to allow same-sex marriage, which the stated banned in 2004. The bills also would require the state to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.
Partners Mike LaSage and Rick Harris, both of Farmington Hills, said Wednesday at Affirmations that they hope the Supreme Court rulings will pave the way for them to be married in Michigan.
The men, who have been together for nearly four years, both were previously married to women and had children.
"I often tell people: When I was a child, I knew how I felt, but everybody around me said it was wrong," said LaSage, who added it drove him to live a life of denial for many years. "I don't want the younger people to have to go through that, denying what they want and not being whole."
Harris added: "(The rulings) should make it a lot easier for the younger generation to be themselves."
Members of the LGBT community from throughout Metro Detroit gathered Wednesday morning at Affirmations in Ferndale to hear a pair of historic United States Supreme Court rulings related to same-sex marriage.
First, the court ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by states, is unconstitutional. In the second ruling, it allowed to stand a lower court ruling that struck down California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage.
[Stay tuned to Patch for more local news and reactions to the rulings!]
The assembled crowd expressed happiness about the decisions but said much work still needs to be done to achieve equality.
"Because Ferndale is such a center for LGBT couples, I think (the rulings are) going to be empowering and will encourage people to make local change," said Lisa Schmidt of Ferndale, who is a member of Affirmations Faith Alliance.
The decisions come the same week lawmakers in Lansing introduced a set of bills that would amend Michigan's constitution to allow same-sex marriage, which the stated banned in 2004. The bills also would require the state to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.
Partners Mike LaSage and Rick Harris, both of Farmington Hills, said Wednesday at Affirmations that they hope the Supreme Court rulings will pave the way for them to be married in Michigan.
The men, who have been together for nearly four years, both were previously married to women and had children.
"I often tell people: When I was a child, I knew how I felt, but everybody around me said it was wrong," said LaSage, who added it drove him to live a life of denial for many years. "I don't want the younger people to have to go through that, denying what they want and not being whole."
Harris added: "(The rulings) should make it a lot easier for the younger generation to be themselves."
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