I Can't Help Thinking that Rick Snyder and Bill Schuette Have Made a Tactical Error

On my second anniversary, I feel it's worthwhile to comment on the state of LGBT equality in Michigan.

That is to say, there really isn't any, at the state level, at least.

Marriages have been suspended while the state government spends tens of thousands of dollars on an appeal to "protect voters' rights" that in the end everyone knows will not prevail. (These same voters, if given the vote again tomorrow, would vote for equality.)

Rebecca and I have changed our names federally with the Social Security administration. We also managed to convince the bank to let us change our name, but not without sharing our story with three credit union employees, some of whom were under the impression that we had full equality. We clearly included Rick and Bill's involvement in our lack of equality. Rebecca was turned away from the Secretary of State; the state is refusing to issue driver's licenses based on our Social Security status or using our marriage certificate. In our case, this would mean going through the courts, something not available to us because we haven't been the residents of our county for more than a year. We'd have to wait until June of 2015 to pursue that, and it would be far more expensive and time consuming.

Many places want our driver's licenses to be changed to do the other changes. In some cases, a passport would do, but we don't have the money to change our passports yet. The university changed Rebecca's name based on her marriage certificate but refused to do so for me. They said they will do it when my social security card comes. I made sure to explain there too why I didn't have the driver's license they wanted, again including Rick and Bill.

Because of our story, many more Michiganders know about the oppressive beliefs and behaviors of Rick Snyder's administration in a year when he cannot take re-election for granted. The funny thing is that allowing us to change our name would not cost the state anything, or really even confer us benefits. It creates headaches for our employers who want all paperwork to match for payroll purposes - employers that Rick supposedly values and wants to help.

A song from the musical "Once Upon a Mattress" comes to mind:

It won't be long, it won't be long, it won't because it can't be long
Before our dreams come true.
I know I mustn't worry, Harry,
Still, I wish you'd hurry, Harry,
Harry, marry me.

I truly believe that by the end of 2016, and probably sooner, we'll see marriage equality in Michigan. However, just because the legislation changes doesn't mean that hearts and minds have. If Michigan is this oppressive, I question whether it is the right place for us, and eventually for our children.