DETROIT, MI (MPRN)-- Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage goes on trial this week in Detroit. As Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta reports, a lesbian couple wants to get married so they can jointly adopt the special needs children they’re raising together:
The amendment to the Michigan Constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage was approved by voters almost 10 years ago.
Dan Nessel is an attorney for the couple. She says their family’s rights to equal protection under the law trump the amendment. She appeared over the weekend on the WXYZ TV program “Spotlight”.
“We have always held true to the belief that constitutional rights are fundamental," she said. "They’re not something the public ought to be voting on.”
More than two dozen people are listed to be called as called as witnesses. Much of the case will focus on research dealing with children raised in households led by same-sex couples.
Federal judges in five other states have struck down gay marriage bans.