Farmington Hills Couple Hails Supreme Court DOMA, Prop 8 Decisions

This story was reported and written by Leslie Ellis. 

Members of the LGBT community from throughout Metro Detroit, including a Farmington Hills couple, gathered Wednesday morning at Affirmations in Ferndale to hear a pair of historic United States Supreme Court rulings related to same-sex marriage.

First, the court ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by states, is unconstitutional. In the second ruling, it allowed to stand a lower court ruling that struck down California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage.

Partners Mike LaSage, 47, and Rick Harris, 52, said they hope the rulings will pave the way for them to be married in Michigan.

The men, who have been together for nearly four years, both were previously married to women and had children.

"I often tell people: When I was a child, I knew how I felt, but everybody around me said it was wrong," said LaSage, who added it drove him to live a life of denial for many years. "I don't want the younger people to have to go through that, denying what they want and not being whole."

Harris added: "(The rulings) should make it a lot easier for the younger generation to be themselves."

Congressman Gary Peters (D-14th District), who represents Farmington Hills, issued a statement Wednesday said the rulings "take another step closer toward living up to the ideals our nation was founded on - equality, freedom, and justice. No American should be denied the chance to legally marry and raise a family with the one they love and with all the benefits that entails."

Peters said he joined Congressional colleagues in filing an amicus brief in support of striking down DOMA as unconstitutional.