Equality MichiganStayConnectedTwitterFacebookYouTubeTumblrEmailZipSkip to Navigation ↓Show your support for Michigan's only statewide advocacy and anti-violence organization working exclusively for the LGBT communities.Contribute today!Subscribe to What's New What's NewFederal judge strikes down Michigan's ban on domestic partnership benefitsU.S. District Court Judge David M. Lawson today prevented Michigan’s Public Act 297, a ban on domestic partner benefits for public employees, from going into effect by ruling it is unconstitutional. This onerous law would have prohibited cities, counties and other public employers from offering benefits to same-gender partners of their employees. Judge Lawson found it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution and would unequally burden same-gendered couples by denying them the same benefits as their counterparts in opposite-gender relationships. Read more about Federal judge strikes down Michigan's ban on domestic partnership benefitsJune 28, 2013LGBT Leaders and Politicians Endorse #TestMe HIV Testing Digital InitiativeA new digital initiative launched by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally advocates and bloggers to encourage HIV testing on June 27 has been unveiled. The #TestMe initiative has support and endorsements from Equality Michigan and people like Howard Dean, former Democratic candidate for President, and several national organizations. Read more about LGBT Leaders and Politicians Endorse #TestMe HIV Testing Digital InitiativeJune 27, 2013Supreme Court rules in favor of marriage equalityThe United States Supreme Court today ruled that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and therefore the federal government must recognize same-gender marriages from states that have legalized marriage equality. The Court also upheld a lower court's ruling that same-gender marriages should resume in California, based on Proposition 8 being unconstitutional. Read more about Supreme Court rules in favor of marriage equalityJune 26, 2013State Representatives to Sponsor Bills Legalizing Marriage EqualityState Representatives Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), Rudy Hobbs (D-Southfield), Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), and Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) today announced the upcoming introduction of a legislative package to legalize marriage equality in Michigan. Their announcement comes before the United States Supreme Court is due to release their ruling early this week on Proposal 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), two cases dealing with marriage equality. Read more about State Representatives to Sponsor Bills Legalizing Marriage EqualityJune 24, 2013State Representatives Sponsor Bills Legalizing Same-Sex MarriageState Representatives Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor), and Emily Dievendorf of Equality Michigan will unveil a package of legislation aimed at legalizing same-sex marriage and ensuring mar