Same-sex relationships are out in the open again, as the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that a voter-approved ban against gay marriage also prevents governments and state universities from recognizing domestic partnerships to provide health insurance to the partners of gay workers.

According to the court, by providing benefits to same sex domestic partners, employers recognize those relationships in a way indistinguishable from the way marriage is recognized.

The 2004 voter-approved ban (59% vs. 41%) says a union between a man and a woman is the only agreement recognized as a marriage.

Twenty-one gay couples sued when Attorney General Mike Cox used the measure in 2005 to determine that domestic partner health policies were unconstitutional. The couples argued that the measure was only about marriage and not designed to take away benefits from gays.

A lower court ruled against the couples in 2007. The state's highest court has now affirmed that ruling.

The Michigan Supreme Court decision, voted 5-2, affects up to 20 universities, community colleges, school districts, and governments in Michigan with policies covering at least 375 gay couples.

Gay rights advocates say the ruling is devastating but also are confident that public-sector employers have successfully rewritten or will revise their benefits plans so same-sex partners can keep getting health care.

Relationships of any kind between same-sex partners have long raised controversy, with a large body of scientific evidence suggesting that homosexual marriage is a defective counterfeit of traditional marriage and that it poses a clear and present danger to the health of the community.

Traditional marriage improves the health of its participants, has the lowest rate of domestic violence, prolongs life and is the best context in which to raise children.

On the other hand, homosexual coupling undermines its participants’ health, has the highest rate of domestic violence, shortens life and is a poor environment in which to raise children.