In 2004, Michigan voters easily passed a constitutional ban on gay marriage, a measure that forbids same-sex couples from attaining any form of legal family status. But by November 2012, 56 percent of the state鈥檚 residents said they supported gay marriage, according to Michigan State University鈥檚 State of the Union Survey.
Gay rights advocates are working to put the issue to voters in a state referendum. But a lawsuit filed by two women trying to adopt each other鈥檚 children could also overturn the state鈥檚 same-sex marriage ban. On July 1, a federal district judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit and ordered a trial, saying that in light of the US Supreme Court鈥檚 ruling on DOMA, the 鈥減laintiffs are entitled to their day in court and they shall have it.鈥�
Meanwhile, Democrats have introduced pro-gay marriage legislation in the state legislature aimed at setting up a referendum. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which opposes gay marriage, says it will use that to activate its supporters.
鈥淎 lot of our people have been on the sidelines waiting for the Supreme Court to decide,鈥� says Thomas Peters of NOM. 鈥淣ow we can go back to them.鈥�
