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Triplett, Byrum seek to legally recognize Saturday's same-sex marriages

March 24, 2014

In an attempt to preserve the legality of the same sex marriages  performed in Ingham County on Saturday, East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett and Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking for help.

Byrum and Triplett explained that all the marriages complied with U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman’s order to eliminate the ban on same sex marriage in Michigan and occurred before Attorney General Bill Scuette's stay was granted. 

“We are writing to request that you help lift this pall by declaring that the aforementioned marriages . . . will be recognized as lawful and considered eligible for all relevant federal benefits,” the letter reads.

The letter, directed to U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Eric Holder, uses Utah’s Kitchen v. Herbert as an example. 

“You took similar action to clarify the federal status of marriages you entered into in Utah . . . We ask only you do the same for Michigan couples," it read.  

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