Lesbian Michigan couple marries
April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse—the lesbian Michigan couple who challenged the state's same-sex adoption and marriage bans—exchanged vows Aug. 22 in Southfield, The Detroit News reported.
Strolling down the aisle to George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun," DeBoer wore a cream-colored wedding dress and Rowse donned a black tuxedo. Among the 250 guests were celebrity attorney Gloria Allred ( accompanied by Robin Tyler and Diane Olson—California's first legally married gay couple ) and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman officiated the event.
The Hazel Park couple, both nurses, will take on the last name DeBoer-Rowse.
The couple initially filed Jan. 23, 2012, in federal district court, challenging Michigan's ban on adoption by same-sex couples. That August, Friedman asked the couple to amend their suit to challenge the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case ( which was consolidated with others ), resulting in the 2015 decision to overturn the marriage-equality ban.
The Detroit Park item is at www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2015/08/22/deboer-rowse-exchange-vows-historic-wedding/32212729/ .
Sept. 20 rally to support Clinton
On Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m., U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky is hosting a rally in support of Hillary Clinton at Studio Paris, 59 W. Hubbard St.
Clinton is not slated to attend.
Others scheduled to be there include state Sen. Heather Steans, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Commisioner Debra Shore, Cook County Commisioner Bridget Gainer, state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, state Rep. Laura Fine, former state Sen. Carol Ronen and others.
RSVP at janschakowsky.org/rally .
Treasurer pushes college savings accounts
State treasurer Michael Frerichs is asking Illinois residents to make sure college savings plans are part of their back-to-school lists.
A press release reads, in part, "For $25, anyone can open a college savings account. You do not need to be a parent. You do not even need to be related to the child."
Accounts can be opened at IllinoisTreasurer.gov . Click "College Savings," and then choose either "Bright Start" or "Bright Directions."
WIU to offer queer studies minor
Western Illinois University ( WIU, located in Macomb ) will begin offering a minor in queer studies beginning this fall.
Working with the University Committee on Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression ( UCOSOGIE ), Merrill Cole ( WIU English professor and creator of the minor ) and the committee created the 16-hour minor, which was approved by faculty senate and the provost this past spring.
Classes included in the minor are those that already exist within English, sociology, psychology, foreign languages and women's studies. UCOSOGIE faculty members developed two new queer studies classes by as core courses.
