Transgender Man Denied A Marriage License in Oakland County

Updated: Wednesday, 29 Dec 2010, 10:40 AM EST
By Simon Shaykhet & myFOXDetroit.com Staff

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/offbeat/transgender-man-denied-a-marriage-license-in-oakland-county

PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) - A transgender man says an Oakland County court denied him and his fiancé a marriage license because his sex change was not complete.

Jordan Swan, 25, tells FOX 2's Simon Shaykhet that he's taken the necessary surgical steps to become a man, including a hysterectomy and hormone therapy, but it isn't enough in the eyes of the court. That's because Swan's birth certificate still says he's a female. Same-sex marriage is not recognized in the state of Michigan.

County takes back transgender man's marriage license

Published: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
By Dave Phillips
For the Daily Tribune

http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2010/12/29/news/doc4d1be1ae89ef6786077792.txt

Ten minutes of joy turned into days of agony and frustration this week for a transgender Ferndale man and his fiancee.

Jorden Swan, 25, said he and his fiancee obtained a marriage license Monday at Oakland County Circuit Court. While driving home, the couple received an unwanted phone call — they'd have to return the certificate and obtain a refund.

The court said it considered the impending marriage a same-sex marriage because Swan has not yet had a phalloplasty — a surgical procedure to attach male genitalia.