In his ruling last week striking down Michigan’s ban on equal marriage, federal Judge Bernard Friedman wrote that, “In attempting to define this case as a challenge to ‘the will of the people, state defendants lost sight of what this case is truly about: people.”
But after the rapid-fire appeal of that ruling and the subsequent suspension of all marriages between same-sex couples in the state, it’s clear that Michigan officials still don’t seem to care what this case is really about: people.
A spokesperson for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced Sunday that the state will not immediately recognize the hundreds of marriages performed in the brief window that equal marriages were being performed in the state, leaving these same-sex couples in a legal limbo.
“We are extremely sensitive to feelings on this issue and are hoping for a swift resolution for all involved,” said Snyder spokesperson Sara Wurfel.
The decision blocks Michigan’s county clerks from issuing new marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and prevents newly married couples from taking advantage of the legal assurances of their unions — including the adoption of children.
The legal challenge that brought down the law was from two women fighting for the right to adopt each other’s children. But with everything on hold until the court acts, couples like them must continue to wait. “We are not saying that we aren’t or won’t recognize the marriages that happened on Saturday, but that we’re awaiting further court or legal direction on this complex, unusual situation,” Wurfel explained to the Associated Press.
An appeals court is expected to make a decision Wednesday about extending the stay.
