DETROIT — On Wednesday, a federal court is expected to announce its judgement on a case involving same-sex marriage in Michigan.
Many couples in West Michigan tell FOX 17 that extending marriage benefits to gay couples would help legitimize their relationships.
Bethany Rozeboom took part in a commitment ceremony with her partner in September. As a mother of two, she wants her relationship to be recognized for legal benefits through her partner’s employer, such as medical coverage.
“It hurts, and it makes me really sad, and sometimes really angry to feel like they still look at my past relationship with a man as somehow more significant and more valid than the present relationship now,” said Rozeboom.
Tom Richardson said that he’s been with his partner for 28 years, and he would like to be awarded benefits if his relationship was recognized as a legal marriage, , such as avoiding the estate tax.
“You invested all your lives together, and taxes could take it all away,” Richardson said. “So the concept of being able to be married would eliminate that worry,”
Opponents of same-sex marriage are concerned that allowing same sex marriage will ruin the structure of a traditional family.
“Marriage matters,” said Ryan Anderson with The Heritage Foundation. “Marriage exists to connect men and woman as husband and wife to be fathers and mothers to any children they produce. Kids need mom and dads, and marriage is the institution that provides a mother and father for a child.”
Federal Judge Bernard Friedman is scheduled to give his judgment summary Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
