Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown issued a statement via press release on Governor Snyder’s decision to not appeal Judge Goldsmith’s ruling that the more than 300 same-sex couples married last year have valid marriages:
“While I’m thrilled that Governor Snyder and Attorney General Schuette are respecting the decision that the marriages performed on March 22 last year must be recognized, I wish they would have done the same with Judge Friedman’s decision on same-sex marriage. Instead, they are continuing to waste taxpayer dollars to discriminate against those who were not fortunate enough to get married during that small window.
“I am so glad that we opened the Oakland County Clerk’s Office on that historic Saturday so that the more than 130 loving, committed couples married in Oakland County that day can have the protection guaranteed to every other married couple in Michigan. It’s a shame that it took nearly a year for their marriages to be legally recognized by the state. The important thing is to not give up the fight.
“Today’s announcement is a step forward for Michigan as we march toward marriage equality. I’m anxious for the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Judge Friedman’s ruling that the Michigan Marriage Amendment is unconstitutional, therefore allowing same-sex couples the right to marry. In the meantime, I urge the Legislature to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.”
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