BREAKING: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Signs Anti-Gay Adoption Bills Into Law

Via press release from Snyder's office:

Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation ensuring Michigan children up for adoption have the greatest opportunity to be placed in loving homes. "The state has made significant progress in finding more forever homes for Michigan kids in recent years and that wouldn't be possible without the public-private partnerships that facilitate the adoption process," Snyder said. "We are focused on ensuring that as many children are adopted to as many loving families as possible regardless of their makeup."

House Bills 4188, 4189 and 4190, sponsored by lawmakers from both parties -- state Reps. Andrea LaFontaine, R-Columbus Township, Harvey Santana, D-Detroit, and Eric Leutheuser, R-Hillsdale, respectively, help continue Michigan's successful placement of children with loving families by codifying current adoption practices within the state. Under the legislation, faith-based agencies that contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services can operate in accordance with their beliefs.

The bills also require child placement agencies that decline any services to prospective parents to promptly provide information and a list of alternative adoption agencies willing and able to serve them. They do not change current practices in Michigan, but prevent faith-based agencies from having policies forced on them that violate their religious beliefs, which have resulted in agencies closing in Massachusetts, Illinois, California, and Washington, D.C.

MICHIGAN: Activists Call On Gov. Snyder To Veto Anti-Gay Adoption Bills

Yesterday the Michigan Senate approved a trio of anti-gay adoption bills that will soon head to the desk of Gov. Rick Snyder.  LGBT groups are calling on Snyder to veto the bills, but so far he hasn't tipped his hand.

Gov. Rick Snyder has been coy about whether he'll support the bills if they reach his desk. He said earlier this year that the adoption bills would need further review and that he's in favor of children being adopted by "loving families" and "loving parents." He didn't specify if that included same-sex couples. On Wednesday, Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel, said the governor will carefully review the bills "through the lens of what will ensure that we are taking care of the most Michigan children, and matching them with their forever families." Critics of the bills have derided the legislation as state-sanctioned discrimination — especially because many of the faith-based agencies receive public funding from the state. But supporters say it will help keep all options open for adoptive parents, while not forcing the agencies to compromise their principles for fear of legal retaliation or face closure because of a loss of state funding.

Lambda Legal provides the link to contact Snyder.

MICHIGAN: Anti-Gay Adoption Bill Nears Final Approval After Senate Passage

Via the Detroit News:

The state Senate gave final approval Wednesday to legislation allowing faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to invoke “sincerely held religious beliefs” to turn away gay and lesbian couples wanting to adopt children. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said the legislation “protects the valuable role” of the state’s many adoption agencies with varied goals and “better supports” faith-based agencies already handling state-funded adoptions. Meekhof said the bills as “very close to my heart. I am the proud product of a faith-based adoption,” he said. The Republican-controlled Senate passed the bills on party-line votes of 26-12. Democrats tried to derail the legislation by arguing it would give faith-based adoption agencies a license to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as those of other faiths who want to raise 13,000 Michigan children waiting for adoption. They unsuccessfully sought a series of amendments to the bills.

The bill first passed in the House earlier this year in a 65-44 vote. It now goes back to the House for reconciliation, after which it goes to Gov. Rick Snyder. 

MICHIGAN: Gov. Rick Synder Opposes Marriage Of Terminally Ill Gay Man

Via the Washington Blade:

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced in a legal brief filed late last week he opposes state recognition of the marriage of gay man in the Wolverine State who’s terminally ill. In a five-page brief dated April 16 and submitted to the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Michigan, Snyder argues Michigan shouldn’t be required to recognize the marriage of Bruce Morgan, an East Grand Rapids, Mich., resident who’s suffering from brain cancer and married his partner, Brian Merucci in New York in 2013. A federal court had struck down Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage in March 2014, but the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision, upholding the state’s prohibition on gay nuptials. That case is now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

See Synder's brief.

MICHIGAN: State To Recognize Marriages Conducted Before Stay Went Into Effect

Last month a federal judge ruled that Michigan must recognize the 323 marriages that took place on the one day that it was legal. Snyder's 21-day appeal window would have expired tomorrow.

Michigan And Kentucky Plaintiffs Petition SCOTUS For Review Of Marriage Cases

This afternoon the plaintiffs in the Michigan and Kentucky marriage equality cases both filed petitions with the Supreme Court which request a review of the Sixth Circuit Court decision that upheld the bans in their states. Late last week plaintiffs in the Ohio and Tennessee cases filed their petitions. Hit the above links to read the petitions. GOP Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is working to invalidate the 300+ marriages that took place in the brief period between the ruling there and the stay. (Via Equality Case Files)

MICHIGAN: State Argues That Sixth Circuit Ruling Invalidates Existing Marriages

The state of Michigan yesterday filed an attempt to void the 300+ same-sex marriages that took place there  during the brief period that it was legal. According to the office of Gov. Rick Snyder, last week's ruling by the Sixth Circuit invalidated those marriages.

"Consequently, from a legal standpoint, because the marriages rested solely on the district court's erroneous decision, which has now been reversed, it is as if the marriages never existed, and Plaintiffs' requests for benefits attendant to a legal marriage must be denied," lawyers for the state wrote in the six-page brief. It was filed with U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith, who heard oral arguments in the case in August from both sides in a suit filed by eight of the affected couples. That case, Caspar v. Snyder, is pending. Marsha Caspar, the lead plaintiff in the case, and Glenna DeJong were the first same-sex couple in Michigan to be married March 22 in Ingham County. Attorneys for the couples in that case have until Nov. 21 to file their supplemental briefs. Among the plaintiffs are Frank Colasonti Jr. and James Ryder, the first same-sex couple married in Oakland County on March 22. "Jim and I are shocked and angry that the state of Michigan would continue to argue that our legal marriages are null and void," Colasonti said Friday.

Truly disgusting.

MICHIGAN: Gov. Rick Snyder Vows To Continue Same-Sex Marriage Ban Defense

Via Michigan Live:

Michigan’s gay marriage ban remains in place after a federal court ruling on Thursday, and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette both made clear they will continue to defend it. “When I became governor, I took an oath to support and defend our state constitution, without exceptions,” Snyder said in a statement, referencing the 2004 voter-approved amendment that defined marriage as between one woman and one man. “My obligation to carry out that oath is not a matter of personal preference. As I have said throughout this process, I will respect the court’s decision as it examines the legality of same-sex marriage.” Snyder has consistently declined to take a stance on the underlying issue — whether the same-sex marriage ban is good public policy — which has led to criticism from gay rights supporters.

Back in March, Snyder refused to recognize the 300+ marriages that took place during the brief period in which they were allowed.

BREAKING: AG Eric Holder Says Feds Will Recognize Michigan's Gay Marriages

Just in via White House press release:

"I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government. These families will be eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages. The Governor of Michigan has made clear that the marriages that took place on Saturday were lawful and valid when entered into, although Michigan will not extend state rights and benefits tied to these marriages pending further legal proceedings.

For purposes of federal law, as I announced in January with respect to similarly situated same-sex couples in Utah, these Michigan couples will not be asked to wait for further resolution in the courts before they may seek federal benefits to which they are entitled. Last June’s decision by the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor was a victory for equal protection under the law and a historic step toward equality for all American families. The Department of Justice continues to work with its federal partners to implement this decision across the government. And we will remain steadfast in our commitment to realizing our country’s founding ideals of equality, opportunity, and justice for all.”

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder can suck it. Get ready for Sadz Friday!

UPDATE: The Human Right Campaign applauds.

Last week 300 committed and loving same-sex couples were legally wed in Michigan. As such they deserve the recognition and treatment that all other married couples receive. Attorney General Eric Holder has once again demonstrated his steadfast commitment to equality and upholding the core values of the U.S. Constitution by affirming federal recognition of these marriages.

MICHIGAN: Gov. Rick Snyder Refuses To Recognize Legal Same-Sex Marriages

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says that while he considers the 300+ same-sex marriages conducted last week to be legal, he won't allow state agencies to recognize them.

Snyder acknowledged same-sex couples “had a legal marriage.” But because of the court’s stay, he added, the gay marriage ban has been restored. The governor’s move closes the door, at least for now, to certain benefits reserved solely for married couples. The American Civil Liberties Union said more than 1,000 Michigan laws are tied to marriage. “We did our own homework and I believe this is a reasonable legal position to take based on the available literature and law,” Snyder told reporters

This afternoon the Human Rights Campaign called on US Attorney General Eric Holder to extend federal recognition to those marriages. Via press release:

The Department of Justice under Attorney General Eric Holder has been a remarkable leader in the fight for equal recognition of marriage for lesbian and gay couples. Their decision to recognize marriages performed in Utah during the period when gay couples were granted licenses was legally sound and morally right. The Human Rights Campaign has encouraged the Department to apply the same principles to the Michigan marriages that happened recently and we have every reason to believe that they will continue being champions of the LGBT community.

MICHIGAN: Governor Won't Immediately Recognize Saturday's 300+ Gay Marriages

The office of GOP Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is ordering state agencies to wait before recognizing the 300+ same-sex marriages that took place on Saturday but the Sixth Circuit Court issued its stay. Via the Associated Press:

About 300 couples wed Saturday in four Michigan counties before a federal appeals court placed a stay on a Detroit federal judge's decision overturning the state's 2004 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. "We are extremely sensitive to feelings on this issue and are hoping for a swift resolution for all involved," said Sara Wurfel, spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Snyder. Asked if that would prevent, for example, a newlywed gay couple from applying for adoption of children on Monday, Wurfel said that Snyder and his administration consider everything to be on hold for now. "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 told The Associated Press in an email Sunday. "Either way, this can't be construed one way or another as not recognizing the validity of the same sex marriages."

We should coin a gay term to describe the status of same-sex marriages in places like Utah and Michigan. In both states gay couples stampeded to county clerks' offices within hours of court rulings. And in both states all those marriages currently have a giant blinking asterisk next to them.

MICHIGAN: Gov. Rick Snyder Asks Court To Uphold Ban On Same-Sex Benefits

GOP Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has filed a motion asking a federal court to uphold a ban on domestic partner benefits for state and local government employees.

The motion asks Judge David Lawson to rule in favor of the state in a lawsuit filed by five same-sex couples. The motion argues that the 2011 law banning the benefits "eliminates local government programs that are irrational and unfair" and promotes "financially sound" local agencies. In June 2013, Lawson issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the law, Public Act 297, saying the plaintiffs in the case had a good chance of proving at trial that the law violates the equal protection guarantee of the U.S. Constitution.

RELATED: An unrelated suit for Michigan marriage equality is scheduled to have its opening arguments next week. Earlier this month the plaintiffs in that suit filed a motion demanding that discredited researcher Mark Regnerus be barred from testifying as an expert witness.