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DeBoer and Rowse say vows after Supreme Court win

Tracy Samilton
/
Michigan Radio

April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse were married in Southfield, Michigan on Saturday, by the same Detroit judge who struck down Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage.

The lawsuit was consolidated with cases from other states, and went before the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

DeBoer and Rowse waited to marry until it was legal in their home state. 

The ceremony was by turns awkward, hilarious, and deeply touching. 

Four of the couple's five children were included in the ceremony – necessitating a potty break in the middle of April DeBoer's vows, because one of the boys just couldn't wait. 

"Being your legal wife means everything to me," DeBoer told Rowse, her voice breaking, "and everything to our kids."

During her vows, Rowe wryly joked, "I knew by the second date ... well, maybe the third (laughter) that we were destined to be together."

The wedding was attended by about 250 people, including the couple's attorneys.

"I really think we're going to look back at this time in history and people will be perplexed why this was such a big deal in the first place," said attorney Dana Nessell. "And I think same-sex marriage won't be same-sex marriage any more. It'll just be marriage."

Now that the two are legally married, they'll  be able to jointly adopt their children. 

At a press conference after the ceremony, DeBoer said she's looking forward their lives getting back to normal.

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Public as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.
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