MUSKEGON, Mich. — For one day in 2014, same sex marriage was legal in Michigan, more than a year before it became legal across the nation. Hundreds of couples rushed to get married during that brief window.
March 22, 2014, is a special day for Mike Hintz and Boyd Bradshaw.
"It marks our 10-year anniversary, but it also marks, you know, 10 years of Michigan repealing their ban on same sex marriage, as well," said Hintz.
The couple was one of more than 300 married in the brief 24-hour window it was legal.
"There were couples that were there with us that had been waiting over 20, 25 years to marry the person that they love and couldn't do it until then," said Bradshaw.
Hintz and Bradshaw were joined by many others who got their marriage certificate from former Muskegon County Clerk Nancy Waters.
"The sweetest, sweetest woman on the planet," said Hintz.
Waters was only one of four clerks in Michigan, and the only one in West Michigan, to process same sex marriage licenses that day. Ten years later, the couple is excited for the younger generation to have a better experience than they did.
"We never knew a gay couple that was happily married and together for years and that type of thing. And so now, there's lots of positive role models for young, young gay people," said Bradshaw.
And is thankful to get to spend many more years together.
"Whether you're gay, trans, bi, lesbian, however you fit into the continuum. I mean, people are beautiful," said Hintz. "And I think that making marriage an equal right for everyone honors that our relationships are beautiful, as well."
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