Women challenge state's marriage amendment

DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit-area lesbian couple says they have expanded their legal fight against Michigan's ban on adoptions by unmarried couples. April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, who have three special-needs children, says the lawsuit filed last Friday in federal court seeks to change state laws that prevent same-sex couples from marrying and adopting children. Michigan law says they can't adopt children as a couple, an option available only to heterosexual married couples. The Hazel Park couple is the first to challenge the state's marriage amendment passed in 2004. DeBoer and Rowse say their civil rights are being violated. A decision by Detroit federal Judge Bernard Friedman, who heard arguments last month, is pending. Michigan's attorney general's office says Friedman should defer to the judgment of Michigan lawmakers and dismiss the case. Published: Tue, Sep 11, 2012