Odawa Indian tribe hosts Michigan's first legal same-sex marriage

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Detroit Free Press

HARBOR SPRINGS — The groom wore a black sweater. The other groom wore a red one.

Tim LaCroix, 53, and Gene Barfield, 60, were in the enrollment office this morning at the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians government facility.

The couple took turns filling out an application to get married, paid the $15 fee and received a marriage license. Both smiled nervously.

It was a historic day. Not just for them and not just for the tribe that LaCroix belongs to, but for Michigan too. . .


Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20130315/NEWS06/130315090/Odawa-Indian-tribe-hosts-Michigan-s-first-legal-same-sex-marriage

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How cool is this? Congrats to the guys and the Odawas. It's a great read; another snippet:

The couple met in 1983 while both were on active duty in the Navy. They live in northern Michigan, where they garden, assemble model railroads and share two dogs and a cat.

“We’ve been partners for 30 years in the way people use the word ‘partner’ for a same sex couple,” Barfield said. “Now we’re not going to be partners anymore. We’re going to be spouses.”

[littlemissmartypants]

1. LMSP kicking...n/t

[BadtotheboneBob]

2. Unfortunately, their union is invalid off the reservation...

... as Michigan's Constitution bans same-sex marriage and/or civil unions. Voters in 2004 passed an amendment to that affect with a 58.6% approval. Michigan also prohibits adoption by same sex couples and does not have any 'hate crime' laws based on sexual orientation. As a citizen of the state I know well the political dichotomy here. Seemingly a 'Blue' state on the federal level, with two Democrat Senators and having voted for a Democrat president since '92, state-wide many areas are very 'Red' with a Republican governor and legislature currently in control. Surprisingly, or maybe not, many blue-collar people (including union members) here are very socially conservative. I cannot explain why that is.

[Faygo Kid]

4. Well said. Michigan is often mystifying.

My home state is a conundrum. Western Michigan, particularly in the south, is hard-core right wing. Where I want to retire - Traverse City - is also Republican, although more Bill Milliken/Gerald Ford types, which I can live with. The legislature is about as rabidly far right as you can get, but that's mainly due to redistricting. Michigan overall is a lightly blue state, but it's been hijacked.

[sofa king]

3. Right on!

Hats off to the mighty Ottawa/Chippewa/Potawatomi nation, and Little Traverse in particular.

Keep leading the way, because now that all but a vanishingly small segment of Americans have been robbed, pillaged, massacred and impoverished, we're all Indians now.

[amandabeech]

5. Congratulations to the happy couple.

Good for the Little Traverse Bay Odawa band.

They're clearly living in modern times, unlike some of the religious nutcases in the SW part of the state. You are so right about them, Faygo Kid. I grew up just north of the hard core area, and some of them have titanium broomsticks up their seater ends for their entire lives.

They're giving the great state of Michigan a bad rep, when, as you noted, Michigan is really a light blue state.

Michigan Dems will have to work very hard to gain control for redistricting in the 2020 elections. If I'm out there then, I'll be doing what I can in my tiny rural area.

[Aristus]

6. I'm so happy for them!

Bravo!