A2: Domestic Partners

The Detroit Free Press published a guest column by Jenny Oorbeck of Ann Arbor, who argues that decisions like the state’s recent ban on public employers offering benefits to domestic partners make Michigan an unwelcoming state. She notes other reasons why Michigan falls short: ”Thanks to our discriminatory laws, I have no legal relationship with my younger son, who was born here (I am not his biological mother), which is absurd. By contrast, our older son, born in California (again, I am not his biological mother) is legally my child. I was listed on his birth certificate because California recognizes our marriage. To us, it is a mark of shame on Michigan that only one of our sons has two legally recognized parents, despite our having started our family together intentionally, conceived both children in the same manner, and all live together.” [Source]