Michigan gay marriage law

It was 10 years ago Friday that the first homosexual weddings took place in Michigan. That was one morning following a Detroit federal judge’s overdue afternoon ruling that struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

U.S. Eastern District of Michigan Judge Bernard Friedman’s decision said the amendment to the Michigan Constitution violated equal protection and due process rights. He refused a request by then-Attorney General Bill Schuette to pause the ruling while the decision was appealed.

The following morning, four county clerks opened their doors on a Saturday to issue licenses and perform ceremonies.

At 8:05 a.m., Glenna DeJong and Marsha Caspar became Michigan’s first same-sex married couple at a ceremony at the Ingham County Courthouse in Mason.

“I pronounce you married,” said a teary-eyed Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum.

A member of Byrum’s staff acted as a witness for DeJong and Caspar. The newly married couple stayed around to do the same for other couples who showed up at the courthouse.

“We were the first, but we were worried about others that they would shut it down and they wouldn’t be fit to get married,” DeJong told Michigan Public Radio. “When people came, th