March 22, 2014

Michigan’s Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down Pending Appeal: See How Fast The Movement Is Spreading

New states are recognizing same-sex unions at an astonishing clip.

Jayne Rowse (left) and April DeBoer talk to reporters outside the Federal Courthouse before a judge heard arguments on their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.Jim West/ZUMA Wire

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Update, Saturday, March 22, 2014, 5:05pm ET: A federal appeals court has issued a temporary stay of Judge Friedman’s ruling until the 26th. That means that the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Michigan is suspended until at least Wednesday.

Same-sex couples may soon be able to wed in Michigan, following a ruling by US District Judge Bernard Friedman finding the state’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has asked the courts to freeze Friedman’s ruling while the state pursues an appeal. Since December 2013, courts have also ruled against gay-marriage bans in Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, and Virginia.

The animated map below shows how marriage equality is spreading across the country. Read more about that here.

Molly Redden and Matt Connolly

Here’s the full text of Judge Friedman’s ruling:

 

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

payment methods

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