It's sad that we're excited over the small steps taken to get back to where we should already be in terms of gay rights.

An Ingham County judge ruled Tuesday that public universities and governments have the option of extending health insurance to employees' same-sex domestic partners.

Circuit Court Judge Joyce Draganchuk made the distinction that health care benefits for a spouse or partner were the result of employment, not marriage. Granting health insurance doesn't mean recognizing a gay employee and their spouse as married or in a civil union.

When the issue arose, the law was unclear as to whether same-sex couples could offer their domestic partners health benefits. The ambiguity of the situation left some government employers unsure whether they could offer those benefits. Now we have some clarification.

Hallelujah, there's hope. After the passage of Proposal 2, marriage or a similar union was strictly between a man and a woman. Gay rights activists had to be worried about the future of the movement. This court decision, however small, is definitely a move in the right direction.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm needs to come out and run with this decision.

There's a lot of potential legislation that can further benefit same-sex couples and there's a long way to go.

It's disappointing that Granholm didn't allow the benefits before this case came up. Maybe she will be more bold after this decision.

There's the possibility nothing will change. As it stands now, it's OK to give health insurance benefits to gay employees' partners, but it's in no way enforced. Although this decision might represent a small foothold in the gay rights movement, there is no way to know until government officials make more of an effort.

This ruling pertains to public universities as well. MSU has already granted health benefits to gay employees' domestic partners, which isn't very surprising on a college campus that attracts a variety of different people and lifestyles. Other influential universities should follow suit and remodel their health benefit plans, if they haven't already, and become examples.

Allowing health insurance for gay domestic partners is a small step, but it could branch off into more benefits and gay rights in Michigan legislation.

Employers should set a positive example and allow gay partners to have health benefits and keep the momentum of the gay rights movement moving.