Couple Who Challenged Gay Marriage Ban: 'We Are Going To Continue To Fight'
FERNDALE (WWJ) -- A federal appeals court in Cincinnati voted to uphold anti-gay marriage laws in four states -- including Michigan -- on Thursday. The 2-1 split decision came Thursday afternoon and concluded that states have the right to set rules for marriage.
Meantime, the Hazel Park couple who challenged Michigan's ban on gay marriage held a press conference shortly after the decision in Ferndale where April Deboer, and her partner Jayne Rowse, announced they will file an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"The decision that we got today was a little bit on the disappointing side," Deboer said. "But, we stand before you to tell you that we are going to continue to fight -- we're going to fight for the rights of our children and we will do whatever it takes to ensure that our children have rights."
The ruling creates a divide among federal appeals courts, increasing the likelihood the U.S. Supreme Court will now take up the issue. Carole Stanyar, attorney for DeBoer and Rowse, said the legal team was already drafting a possible appeal for the high court.
"There are so many people in Ann Arbor and Lansing and all the other places that I'm sure are gathering and are behind us also, saying their little prayers and knowing that this is going to go forward," Rowse said.
Rowse added that they appreciate all the support.
"Knowing that this is going to go forward, we're so proud to represent every single one of you and all of your families, just like our families," Rowse told the crowd on Thursday.
"We were hoping that it would go a little more our way, but that didn't happen and we're okay with that," Rowse said. "We're going to continue to fight because we said we would and our attorney said we would."
Gov. Rick Snyder issued a statement regarding decision on same-sex marriage which said that his obligation to "support and defend our state constitution" has no exceptions and "is not a matter of personal preference."
More than 300 couples were married in four counties on a Saturday in March after Detroit federal Judge Bernard Friedman declared Michigan's gay marriage ban — approved by voters in 2004 — unconstitutional.
