You Know Everything About Same-Sex Marriage

Last week was Freedom to Marry Week. No, Outlaws didn’t make this up: it has a website (freedomtomarry.org), a logo (that looks like a robot face with a baseball home plate and cartoon heart for eyes), and a ten-year history of falling around Valentine’s Day for optimal poignancy. That’s right: ten years. Ten years of family carnivals and informative lectures and pedantic (often bordering on ranty) op-ed pieces.

This is one of those ranty pieces. Even though Outlaws asked me to write it, I’m doing so from my own perspective and with my own thoughts. Why? Because I’m under a deadline. And because I don’t know that everyone in Outlaws could reach a consensus on this topic. And because you already know everything there is to know about same-sex marriage.

That’s right, you already know everything there is to know. There are no surprises anymore, so each side of the battle is really just waiting for the other to lose steam, change its mind, or age out and die.

In case you think I’m trying to avoid engaging the arguments, here are the major talking points from both camps:

Arguments against same-sex marriage:

(1) Marriage is an institution defined historically as the union between one man and one woman.
(2) Children are optimally cared for in homes with a mother and a father.
(3) The purpose of marriage is procreation and societal stability.
(4) Same-sex marriage is an untested and dangerous social experiment.
(5) Same-sex marriage is part of a slippery slope to universal depravity.
(6) Gay relationships themselves are immoral.

Arguments against the arguments against same-sex marriage:

(1) You don’t have a bit of evidence for any of that, and
(2) Please, quit being a jerk.

See? No surprises.

Now, I want to confess that I’m very gay, and the rest of this article will be biased appropriately. I also want to confess that I have no idea what marriage is. That’s ok, though, because if we had enough time and wine, I’m pretty sure you’ll discover that you don’t either. This should not prove any impediment to the conversation.

You might notice that the arguments against same-sex marriage seem to be more numerous than the arguments for it. There are two reasons for that: first, most of them aren’t actually arguments against; and second, arguments don’t get you very far in this sort of thing anyway.

Let’s start with that first part. Even though I put six things on the list, most of them aren’t arguments against same-sex marriage at all. Argument (1), for example, isn’t against same-sex marriage--it’s for the strengthening of hetero-sex marriages. Same with (2). Argument (3) is similar, except that given the now-public knowledge that men and women don’t have to be married or even in the same room to conceive a baby, it actually argues for extending marriage to anybody willing to raise a kid in tandem.

Two of them are just smoke screen distractions. Argument (4) has always sounded silly to me, because everything new is potentially dangerous, and same-sex marriage isn’t untested anymore; and Argument (5) is popular among juridical thinkers, but is equally a non-starter in the real world. Really it is: why can 5th cousins but not 4th cousins be married? Because we drew the line there. Why will allowing gays to marry not automatically allow people to marry patio furniture? Because we’ll draw the line there as well. Those who find themselves in a committed relationship with a wicker bistro set will have their own fight to fight. I will happily stand behind their right to love whatever they love. They, however, will be responsible for figuring out the tax implications of their blessed union.

That brings us to Argument (6): Gay relationships are themselves immoral. What can you even say to that? Nothing. That’s when you stop the debate and see if the person wants to grab dinner one night instead. Then you move in down the street a few years later, go shopping with them, watch their dog while they’re out of town, invite them over for Super Bowl parties, call them to gossip, swap turns carpooling the kids to school, and just live. It might take five or ten years, but they’ll figure it out, without you ever saying a word.

The nice thing about the “against same-sex marriage” list of arguments is that it isn’t getting any longer. They’ve had thousands of years to tell us why we’re broken, and about forty years to figure out why we can’t get married (the first American cases were in 1971, according to HRC). Based on what I’ve been hearing for the past 27 years of my own life, it sounds like they’ve run out of new ideas.

On the other hand, every committed same-sex couple is another argument for same-sex marriage. Every kid who comes out is another reason to quit being a jerk and let him dream of white picket fences and a family and love and all the stuff that other kids think they’ll have before they learn how the world really works.

I’m highly optimistic that over the next ten years we won’t need arguments anymore. There is no need to debate what you can plainly see: that it’s love that makes a family, and the energy and breath we waste fighting over who should be a family could be much better spent supporting and encouraging the families that continue to exist whether we legally recognize them or not. It doesn’t require even a minute of legal research, or a page of historical reference. It needs neither clever twists of equality doctrine nor the due process guarantee. To see that same-sex marriage should not be denied any longer takes only a single ounce of kindness.

[originally published in the Res Gestae, the law school bi-weekly newspaper]

[news] Michigan's GLBT College Campus Offices Respond to Ct. of Appeals Prop. 2 Ruling

DETROIT - Michigan's campus offices working with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community have announced their response to the Michigan Appeals Court's anti-families ruling made on February 2, 2007 prohibiting public employers from offering domestic partnership benefits.

"These benefits provide health care and other important services to the families our office works with every day," said Gregory Storms, Program Manager of The Ellen Bommarito LGBT Center at University of Michigan - Flint. Storms added, "It is unfortunate that these reckless judges were so willing to harm these families and put children’s health at risk in an attempt to do something on behalf of voters that the voters didn’t even want them to do."

The Michigan Consortium of Higher Education GLBT Centers this week unveiled a Web site providing information on the Appeals Court's ruling and empowering people to voice their opposition to the ruling. The Web site - www.tri.org/protectourfamilies - allows people to contact their elected officials, submit stories about how the ruling affects them and contribute to the effort to undo the damage the Court of Appeals has done.

"When judges decide that employers no longer have the ability to decide who can receive health benefits, you know it is time to speak out. With the passage of Proposal 2 in 2004, Proposal 2 in 2006, and the recent court ruling, it has become very clear that those of us committed to social justice need to come together and build coalitions. We must move away from the "just us" mentality and toward the "justice" mentality," said Jackie Simpson, Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs at the University of Michigan.

"Given the economic crisis our state is in, discouraging an educated workforce from staying in Michigan by causing them to pick between food and health care seems like a step backward instead of forward," said Kate Brindle, Program Coordinator of Your LGBT Resource Center at Eastern Michigan University.

"For the Michigan universities that currently offer benefits, the court decision will have a tragic impact on their ability to attract and retain talented faculty, staff, and students," said Brent Bilodeau, Director of the Office of LBGT Concerns at Michigan State University.

As stories from individuals impacted by this ruling are collected they will be posted on the Web site - (here) - and shared with the public. The Consortium is also working on other ways members and supporters of their campus community can participate in responding.

The Michigan Consortium of Higher Education GLBT Centers is comprised of Michigan's eight college campus offices serving their campus GLBT community. The Consortium is facilitated by Triangle Foundation, Michigan's statewide civil rights, advocacy and anti-violence organization serving the GLBT community. The actions and statements of the centers do not necessarily represent those of the universities or colleges they serve. The offices primarily serve as a resource and advocate for their respective GLBT campus communities.

Sexual Orientation Law Moot Court 2007!

Two weekends ago, six Outlaws headed to LA for the National Sexual Orientation Moot Court competition. We argued a case about a child named Luke, whose foster fathers were prevented from adopting him because of "New Texico" state law. (Let me know if you want a Luke & the Petitioners "Adoption Denial Tour 2007" tshirt because we are definitely making some).

The two teams spent many hours over the previous months reading up on Constitutional and family law, Bluebooking, mooting our oral arguments (thanks, Steve, Foz, Pepin, and Prof. Thomas!), and racing directly from the printers on Sub-3 to the post office, and then directly from there to the Brown Jug.

In LA, we went to the beach, woke up early to do oral arguments, and afterwards visited a bar in West Hollywood (where, we later learned from an In Touch magazine in the airport giftshop, Britney Spears had been spotted the week before). Since we were all still in our suits at the bar, one woman there thought we were Mormons. And loudly proceeded to tell us so. We also found the best brunch spot in Westwood, enjoyed temperatures about ten times as warm as Ann Arbor's, and managed to make it back to Michigan without forgetting anybody's suit bag. Definitely a successful trip, and one for which we're really grateful for the Outlaws' assistance.

more pictures here.

Pictures from the Party!

pictures from our Freedom to Marry Engagement Party are here.

A lovely party for a lovely couple

Last night, Outlaws threw a fabulous engagement party celebrating the engagement of two of our dear friends. The turn-out was great and the toasts made me teary-eyed. It's fantastic to celebrate the love between two individuals, while also bringing awareness to the fact that currently, many loving couples are not able to be recognized by the government in the way that heterosexual couples can be.

While to those of us who are single, Valentine's Day and the surrounding celebration of "love" may seem like a Hallmark holiday especially aimed at making us feel lonely, sometimes it really is wonderful to celebrate the love between couples who truly care about each other, make sacrifices for each other, and want to spend the rest of their lives together. Especially with the recent Michigan Court of Appeals decision regarding domestic partnership benefits, all I can do is stand back and admire the strength of LGBT couples (and individuals!) who face this sort of discrimination every day and yet continue to fight on for equal rights and opportunities.

I've been an active ally of the LGBT rights movement since I made my first gay best friend, back in high school. When I saw him struggle with family issues, the ability to come out at all to anyone in a very socially conservative small town high school, along with all the other things that sixteen year olds have to deal with on a daily basis, I felt so proud to be his friend, and had so much respect for the choices he made and the maturity with which he handled his situation. Ever since then, with every gay friend I have made, I have always been struck by how much they have had to overcome, and how well they have done so. But most importantly, I look at them as friends, like any other friend, and I want more than anything to defeat those who would try to hurt them. To me, the idea that anyone could look at my friends, without any information aside from their sexual orientation, and make a judgment call that they should not be able to get married, or should be thought of in any way as unequal to heterosexuals under the law, is utterly repulsive. I cannot stand the idea that people impose their religious values into the state's laws in order to keep my friends from having the right to marry the people they love. I'm proud of each and every one of my friends, gay or straight, and I love them and will do whatever I can to make sure that their lives are enjoyable and full of love.

In Judaism, at the end of every Passover seder, we say "Next year in Jerusalem"- I personally interpret this as, let us hope that next year, there will be peace on earth and all will be happy. I'd like to think perhaps, as Freedom to Marry Week draws to a close, "Next year there will be marriage equality." While I'd imagine the probability of true marriage equality may not be achieveable in merely a year, I sure like the idea that one day it will happen.

So congratulations, Nick and Joey, on your commitment to each other, the love you have found in each other, and your willingness to publicly declare your love. Thank you for allowing Outlaws to share in your celebration of that love. And thanks to all of my friends and family, for showing me how to be open minded and how to be a good friend. Happy belated Valentines Day to all, especially my dear friends in Outlaws!

[plug] Brown Bag on OUTing

Outing-the act of exposing someone as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trans-is still happening all over the country. Just ask Jim McGreevey (former New Jersey Governor), Lance Bass (former N*SYNC member), Neil Patrick Harris (formerly of “Doogie Howser, M.D.” currently on the sitcom "How I met Your Mother") and T.R. Knight (“Grey's Anatomy). Join us for an informative discussion on this controversial topic.

Date: Thursday, February 22
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: MSA Chambers, 3909 Michigan Union

Sponsored by The Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Affairs, The Program on Intergroup Relations and University Housing, Division of Student Affairs. The Office of LGBT Affairs, IGR, and University Housing reserve one day each month to conduct noon-hour educational in-services. The brown bag series is intended to provide continuing education and to further the personal and professional development of the campus and community. Each semester, Housing, IGR and LGBTA select relevant topics to be addressed by guest speakers and discussed by participants.

[plug] Lambdagrads Party: Sat., Feb. 17

No matter what the state of your heart is - intact, broken, beating to the rhythm of one, made of stone, or in retreat...

Join Lambdagrads next weekend for a celebration of Love!!!

When: Saturday, February 17th

First: Come to our GLBT Valentine's Day Party! (8:00-10:30PM)

Our party will be held at 1426 Brooklyn Avenue (corner of Brooklyn and Lincoln, off Packard Ave. in Burns Park). This is the large house on the corner. Note that the house # is hard to see, so keep an eye out! Please don't enter in the front; instead enter via the back entrance, by the silver mobile home. Go all the way up to the top of the stairs. While we will have some snacks and refreshments, please BYOB.

Then: Dance your little heart out at The Bang! (11PM-2AM)

The Bang is super queer-friendly monthly party hosted by The Blind Pig for Ann Arbor's hippest kids. This month's theme is The Love Bang! Doors open at 9:30PM, but you can look cool and walk in with Lambdagrads after the GLBT Valentine's Day party. The Blind Pig is located at 208 S. First Street (between W. Washington and W. Liberty). Parking is available in
lots on First. St., a structure across the street, and on the many side
streets. For more information, check out (here).

Oh, and keep the following upcoming events on your gaydar:

* Karaoke - Thursday 3/1, 9:00PM at the Circus Bar
* Lambdagrads Planning Meeting for next year - Tuesday 3/20, 6:00PM
(location TBD)

Sincerely,
The Lambdagrads Crew

[news] SSDP Student Letter of Concern

Dear Fellow Students and Friends:

In response to the Michigan Appeals Court ruling on Feb. 2nd that has the potential to eliminate health benefits for same-sex domestic partners and their dependent children, a group of UM faculty and staff have written a "Letter of Concern" to UM executive officers. I ask you to read the letter and consider signing it in support of UM faculty and staff and their families.

Letters are available to be signed at the following locations:
North Campus: 3200 EECS, anytime
Central Campus: LGBTA Office, 3rd floor Michigan Union, 9am-5pm

All letters must be signed by February 23 at the latest.

The full text of the Student Letter of Concern is attached as a PDF file and is also available (here).

For more information go (here).

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely,
Katie
PhD student, Mechanical Engineering

[news] UM Faculty & Staff Response - SSDP Letter of Concern

from our friends

Dear UM Community:

We would like to respond in a vocal and public way to the Michigan Appeals Court ruling on Feb. 2 that would effectively curtail access to health benefits by same-sex domestic partners and their dependent children. This ruling cast a dark cloud of uncertainty over present LGBT employees and potential recruits to the ranks of our public institutions. While we deeply appreciate the university's commitment to maintaining a benefits structure commensurate with our non-discrimination policy, we are also concerned that the lack of transparency in the response does not sufficiently ameliorate the situation for these families. We know that concern about this situation goes far beyond the relatively few affected faculty, staff, and students and extends to many of our colleagues.

To this end we have composed a "Letter of Concern" that summarizes the situation as we see it and can demonstrate the university community's level of support for SSDP benefits. We would like this letter to be circulated among all faculty and staff in the form of a petition campaign. We are requesting volunteers who are willing to circulate the petition in their department or unit. We are also seeking volunteers to coordinate the collection of the signed letters no later than February 23 and their return to:

SSDP Letter of Concern
c/o AutBar
315Braun Court
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Our plan is then to request a meeting with the executive officers named at the top of the letter to provide them withevidence of the broad support for fairness in the administration of benefits and for the health and well-being of all our families. In addition we would like to publicize the magnitude of the support wereceive in this effort by making known to the public the number of faculty and staff who participate in this petition.

The full text of the Letter of Concern availble (here).

Thank you for your help in this matter. For more information contact (here) and view (here).

[news] Profile on our friend Michelle Fernandez

Michelle is the head of the Wayne State Outlaws and is a good friend of ours. Check out this profile of her on lawcrossing.com.

We <3 her.

LambdaGrads events

No matter what the state of your heart is - intact, broken, beating to the rhythm of one, made of stone, or in retreat...

Join Lambdagrads next weekend for a celebration of Love!!!

When: Saturday, February 17th

First: Come to our GLBT Valentine's Day Party! (8:00-10:30PM) Our party will be hosted by the lovely Nicola at 1426 Brooklyn Avenue (corner of Brooklyn and Lincoln, off Packard Ave. in Burns Park). This is the large house on the corner. Note that the house # is hard to see, so keep
an eye out! Please don't enter in the front; instead enter via the back entrance, by the silver mobile home. Go all the way up to the top of the stairs. Any problems locating it, call Nicola at (734) 678-4050. While we will have some snacks and refreshments, please BYOB.

Then: Dance your little heart out at The Bang! (11PM-2AM) The Bang is super queer-friendly monthly party hosted by The Blind Pig for Ann Arbor's hippest kids. This month's theme is The Love Bang! Doors open at 9:30PM, but you can look cool and walk in with Lambdagrads
after the GLBT Valentine's Day party. The Blind Pig is located at 208 S. First Street (between W. Washington and W. Liberty). Parking is available in lots on First. St., a structure across the street, and on the many side streets. Check out http://www.blindpigmusic.com/calendar.html for more information)

Anyone who's a lover, not a fighter, is welcome!

[news] Updated Information about DP Benfits

Dear friends:

Statewide, LGBTQ and Ally organizations are mobilizing to serve our community in the wake of last Friday’s disappointing ruling against domestic partner benefits. The Office of LGBT Affairs is in communication with Human Resources and the Office of General Counsel at the University of Michigan to determine how far this ruling extends and how soon. Our thoughts continue to be with the many people that this directly affects.

At this time, we are able to offer the following updates and action items:

- Central Website: Early next week, LGBT Centers across the State will go live on a collaborative website, coordinated by the Triangle Foundation, which will offer information and resources regarding the Appellate Court ruling. Documents and statements regarding the ruling and its effect on the community will be posted here. The website will also include detailed action items, letter templates and ways to donate financial resources towards action.

- Personal Stories: Via the website, we are collecting stories of the many individuals, families and children whose health care benefits are in jeopardy because of the court ruling. By sharing the personal stories of those affected by this tragic decision, we hope to shed light on the specific ways that our community remains vulnerable. We know that the general community recognizes this injustice, these stories assist us in highlighting the deep impact of this situation.

- As anticipated, ACLU Michigan has filed two motions for immediate consideration regarding the effective date of the court ruling. At the earliest, we may hear the decision on these motions by Wednesday, February 14.


- Across the State, the ACLU and other ally organizations encourage the following:

* Talk with public employers who are currently providing DP benefits to ensure that they continue to do so.

* Write letters to the editor expressing disapproval of this decision.

*Write letters to the Judges - Wilder, Hoekstra and Zahra – expressing your disapproval.

* Talk with your friends and families about the potential impact that this has on you and others and encourage them to act with you.

We will share more information from statewide organizations and from the University as we receive it.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.


In solidarity,

The Office of LGBT Affairs (here)
Division of Student Affairs, University of Michigan
Gabriel C Javier
Assistant Director
Office of LGBT Affairs
Division of Student Affairs, University of Michigan

[note] Good luck, moot court teams!

This weekend we have two teams competing in the National Sexual Orientation Moot Court Competition at UCLA. Six Outlaws members are in LA right now preparing to take the competition by storm! Please join us in wishing luck to our fabulous team members:

Stacy
David
Jenny
Jordan
Anya
Ryan

Best of luck to our teams! We are so proud of you!

Big love,

Foz & Paul

[event] Freedom to Marry Week!

Outlaws:

Next week is a busy one for us as we recognize Freedom to Marry Week! Please see below for the exciting events we have lined up!

Freedom to Marry Week Events
Feb. 12th-15th

"Just Rhetoric?: How (And Why) Rhetoric is Driving the Debate Over Marriage Equality"
Featuring Prof. Courtney Cahill, Toledo Law
Tuesday, Feb. 13th @ 12:20 p.m. in 250HH (lunch provided)
Co-sponsored by ACS


"Anatomy of Pride at Work v. Granholm"
Featuring ACLU attorney Jay Kaplan, counsel in the recent
decision banning MI domestic partner benefits for state employees
Wednesday, Feb. 14th @ 12:20 p.m. in 120HH (lunch provided)
Co-Sponsored by ACLU-UMLS


"The Expense of Gay Partnerships: What happens when domestic partner benefits are taken away?"
Panel featuring Dean Caminker, Prof. Frier, Prof. Waggoner
& UM Deputy General Counsel, Gloria Hage
Thursday, Feb. 15th @ 6 p.m. in 150HH


Freedom to Marry Party - Celebrating the engagement
of 3L Nick & his fiance Joey !
Food, Friends, Cake & More!!
Friday, Feb. 16th @ 7:30 p.m. at Ashley's Downstairs

We hope everyone can attend these events!!!

Big Love,
Foz & Paul

[News] Yahoo: Outlaws has a King

In more uplifting news, one of Outlaws favorites was crowned King of the School - go Jeff!

Mr. Wolverine:
Each year, law students and student organizations nominate young lads to compete in a quasi-beauty pageant. After being nominated, the guys of each class write and practice a skit. On the night of the main event, young aspiring lawyers perform their skit, answer questions, dance, frolic, dress up and down . . . they entertain us. Meanwhile, Dean Zearfoss and Professor West make fun of each and every contestant. As usual, professors judge the law students - (well, it is a law school event). I've heard that many a young lad stays up hoping, nay dreaming, of being crowned.

[note] Pride Law Fund Summer Fellowships

Pride Law Fund (here)

The Roberta Achtenberg , Steven Block and Mary Morgan Fellowship Programs are open to law students working under the supervision of an attorney at a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization anywhere in the country. Enrollment in law school is not required for the Steven Richter Fellowship. The Achtenberg, Block and Morgan Fellowships are funded in part through the generous support of the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom.

Applicants may apply for more than one fellowship by submitting a written proposal for a Summer project on which they seek to work, together with a letter of sponsorship by an attorney from a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit public interest organization, setting forth the attorney's commitment to supervise the applicant on the project.

* The Achtenberg Fellowship supports work of concern to the lesbian and gay community in the public sector, regarding public policy or of a public service nature.

* The Block Fellowship supports work in the area of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered civil rights and education.
The Morgan Fellowship supports legal work on issues of concern to lesbians and bisexual women.

* The Richter Fellowship supports work in the area of HIV/AIDS, including legal services to people with HIV and/or AIDS.

Application Form Due April 1, 2007 (here).

[plug] Dialogue about MI Ct. App. decision re: DP benefits

The Office of LGBT Affairs at the University of Michigan and the WRAP Resource Center invite you for an opportunity to gather, seek fellowship and dialogue about the recent State of Michigan Court of Appeals decision against same-sex domestic partner healthcare benefits.

While no legal advice will be given, there will be an opportunity for people to discuss the impact of this ruling on our personal and professional lives, as well as for the City of Ann Arbor and State of Michigan.

This is a free, safe space event. All are welcome.

Sunday, February 4, 2007: 2pm-4pm at WRAP Resource Center, 319 Braun Court or Monday, February 5, 2007: 5pm-7pm at MSA Chambers, 3rd Floor, Michigan Union

For information about this court case: ACLU Michigan (here)

Office of LGBT Affairs, University of Michigan (here)

Gabriel C Javier
Assistant Director
Office of LGBT Affairs
Division of Student Affairs, University of Michigan

[News] MI Ct. App.: Domestic Partner Benefits at UM

The staff of LGBT Affairs is deeply disappointed by today’s ruling on the legality of Domestic Partnership Benefits. We also want to express our gratitude to the University of Michigan for their support around domestic partnership benefits.

To read the Michigan Appeals Court decision, go (here).

To read the University of Michigan amicus brief, go (here).

Please find below the university communications regarding same-sex benefits. There will be a media statement from Associate VP Laurita Thomas this afternoon and a message will be going out to the campus community later today. Here is an advance copy.

Jackie Simpson
Director, LGBTA

***************


Media statement from Laurita Thomas, University of Michigan Associate

Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer:

We are deeply disappointed by today’s ruling. We will support an appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court and efforts to seek an immediate stay while the case is appealed. In addition, the law allows us to honor our commitments to provide agreed-upon health benefits through the end of the calendar year, or through the end of the current contract for bargained-for employee groups.

As an employer, we offer benefits to our employees and their dependents in order to recruit and retain the very best faculty and staff. Our benefits program allows us to be competitive with peer institutions, including private universities, across the country. It also clearly demonstrates our commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community. We will continue to promote access to health benefits for our employees and their families.

Message from Associate Vice President Laurita Thomas to all faculty and staff:

In 2004 the voters in Michigan approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as “a union between one man and one woman.” A lawsuit was brought against the state by the ACLU and others to clarify whether the amendment prohibits public institutions from offering health benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of employees. In 2005, the Ingham Circuit Court ruled that the amendment did not prohibit such benefits.

However, today the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that the marriage amendment “prohibits public employers from recognizing same-sex unions for any purpose,” including the provision of employee health benefits. We are deeply disappointed by this ruling. It is our understanding that the ACLU plans to appeal this decision to the Michigan Supreme Court and seek an immediate stay while the case is appealed. We will continue to support these efforts.

In addition, the law allows us to honor our commitments to provide agreed-upon benefits through the end of the calendar year, or through the end of the current contract for bargained-for employee groups.

As an employer, we offer benefits to our employees and their dependents in order to recruit and retain the very best faculty and staff. Our benefits program allows us to be competitive with peer institutions, including private universities, across the country. It also clearly demonstrates our commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community. We will continue to promote access to health benefits for our employees and their families.

If you have questions about your U-M benefits, please contact the HR Service Center at (734) 615-2000.