US: Michigan’s first married same-sex couple invited to White House
A couple who became the first same-sex couple to legally wed in the state of Michigan after their Native American tribe legalised equal marriage will attend the White House LGBT Pride reception next week.
Tim LaCroix, 53, a member of the tribe and Gene Barfield, 60, were married by the tribe’s chairman, Dexter McNamara, who also signed the bill to allow equal marriage.
Mr Barfield, formerly of the US Navy, turned in his service medals 20 years ago in protest against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which required LGBT military staff to conceal their identity.
He and his husband have now been invited to a White House reception honouring LGBT Pride Month on 13 June, reports Michigan Live.
“The fact that there is going to be an LGBT celebration at the White House, times change, times change,” Mr Barfield said.
“So now we”re going to have cookies and milk with the chief executive? To be invited to the White House just blows us away.”
Equal marriage is not legal in Michigan state law, but senators are set to attempt to repeal the state’s constitutional amendment which bans same-sex marriage.