The 300 same-sex couples who married over the weekend in Michigan during a brief period in which gay marriage was legal in the state will soon be eligible for federal marriage benefits, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday.
“I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government,” Holder said. “These families will be eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages.”
Hundreds of same-sex couples were married in Michigan Saturday during a brief period after the state’s gay marriage ban was struck down in court but before a higher court judge temporarily halted that ruling pending appeal. The move by Holder’s Department of Justice contravenes a decision by Michigan’s governor not to recognize the marriages until the legal challenges have been resolved.
Holder’s full statement is below:
“I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government. These families will be eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages. The Governor of Michigan has made clear that the marriages that took place on Saturday were lawful and valid when entered into, although Michigan will not extend state rights and benefits tied to these marriages pending further legal proceedings. For purposes of federal law, as I announced in January with respect to similarly situated same-sex couples in Utah, these Michigan couples will not be asked to wait for further resolution in the courts before they may seek federal benefits to which they are entitled.
“Last June’s decision by the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor was a victory for equal protection under the law and a historic step toward equality for all American families. The Department of Justice continues to work with its federal partners to implement this decision across the government. And we will remain steadfast in our commitment to realizing our country’s founding ideals of equality, opportunity, and justice for all.”
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