Detroit - Following today’s decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to recognize the 300 same sex marriages performed in Michigan last weekend, granting them full federal benefits, U.S. Representative Gary Peters released the following statement:

“I was proud to join my colleagues from the Michigan delegation in a letter to Attorney General Holder asking him to recognize the 300 same sex marriages that took place in Michigan last weekend. Today’s decision by the Justice Department to recognize these historic marriages marks an important step forward toward greater equality for families across our state. No American should face discrimination based on who they love, and we must continue working to ensure that marriage equality is fully recognized and celebrated in Michigan.”

Earlier this week, Peters joined the Michigan Democratic Congressional Delegation to urge Attorney General Holder to recognize the 300 same sex marriages in Michigan from the past weekend. The text of the letter follows:

Dear Attorney General Holder:

We are writing to request that you formally recognize as lawful the more than 300 same-sex marriages recently performed in the State of Michigan for the purposes of federal law and eligibility for federal benefits.

On March 21, U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman struck down Michigan’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and its implementing statutes as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.  Judge Friedman also ordered that the State of Michigan be enjoined from enforcing the ban as well as declined to stay his order.  One day later, in joyous celebrations across the state, more than 300 same-sex couples were lawfully married.

Since that time, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, at the request of Michigan’s Governor and Attorney General, has issued an indefinite stay, blocking additional same-sex couples from exercising a long-denied right and casting unnecessary legal uncertainty over those couples who were recently married.

We appreciate your continued leadership role in the Executive Branch’s implementation of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in United States v. Windsor.  The Court’s decision was a historic step toward equal protection for all American families, regardless of sexual orientation.  By clarifying the federal status of these now married same-sex couples in Michigan—as you did in January for similarly situated same-sex couples in Utah—you can take another step toward full equality.

Sincerely,

Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Sen. Carl Levin
Rep. John Dingell
Rep. Sander Levin
Rep. Gary Peters
Rep. Dan Kildee

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