People across Michigan are closely following the trial of a lesbian couple challenging Michigan's ban on marriage and adoption by same sex couples. The trial began Tuesday with April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse seeking the ability to marry and adopt each other's children.
Mary Larkin is the Program Director for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center at Eastern Michigan University. Larkin thinks the trial has value beyond the final ruling, in that it can debunk some of the social stigmas that exist around same sex parenting. She believes it's heartening to hear people from across Michigan support DeBoer and Rowse.
Larkin adds it's difficult to listen to what the other side has to say but necessary to know what obstacles they are facing. She hopes to attend the trial next week and is following the proceedings through live feeds and twitter.
More coverage on the trial including tweets from Rick Pluta can be found here.
— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
