Michigan's first gay marriage: Couple to wed on American Indian reservation under tribal law
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 03/14/2013
(WXYZ) - A gay man who belongs to a northern Michigan Indian tribe plans to make history Friday when he marries his partner of 30 years.
When 53-year old Tim Lacroix from Boyne City says his vows to 60-year-old Gene Barfield they will become the first gay couple in Michigan to marry legally under tribal law.
UPDATE: The marriage took place Friday morning
The reason it's possible is because of the amended Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians marriage statute.
The chairman of the tribe in Petoskey will sign it Friday morning at 10 a.m.
Tribal law will keep their marriage safe from a 2004 Michigan constitutional amendment.
It's also safe from the federal Defense of Marriage Act which is in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Tim and Gene both served 18 years in the U.S. Navy and believe they fought for everyone else's rights and freedom and now they want the same rights.
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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