Michigan same-sex marriages will be federally recognized

The same-sex couples that married in Michigan on Saturday are being recognized by the federal government as legally married.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that the couples will be eligible for federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages. MLive.com and other regional and national news outlets are reporting on the issue.

About 300 same-sex couples married on Saturday after a federal judge struck down the 2004 Michigan ban on gay marriage the day before. The ruling has since been stayed indefinitely by a federal appeals court.

Holder said the decision to recognize the Michigan marriages is consistent with previous recognition of same-sex marriages performed in Utah under similar circumstances. The state of Michigan will not recognize the marriages.

Governor Rick Snyder said today that he didn’t think it was surprising that Holder announced federal recognition.