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Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage Called "Devestating"

WMUK

The Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center says he was shocked by Thursday's ruling upholding Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage.

Jay Maddock says he was expecting the Sixth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals to "uphold individual freedoms." But he says instead the court denied a fundamental right to marry. 

Maddock says the ruling should not deter people from fighting for the rights for gay and lesbian families in Michigan. He says couples and their children are waiting in limbo, because many rights are tied to marriage. Maddock says those families are anxious to see what happens next. That may mean the case coming before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The opinion written by Judge Jeffrey Sutton says that since Michigan voters approved the amendment to the state Constitution, it would be best for voters to address the question. Maddock says if there is a ballot issue to amend the state Constitution again, his group would support that change. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
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