Federal Appeals Court Tackles Four States' Gay Marriage Bans

Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio, where bans have been tossed by a federal judge, getting cases reviewed.

DETROIT — Michigan's gay marriage ban is set for another legal showdown, only this one involves more players, more judges and likely more drama.

On Wednesday, the historic civil rights case that centers on the right to marry heads to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, where three federal appeals judges will decide the fate of same-sex marriage bans in Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. In each of these states, a judge has ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, though all rulings have been appealed.

The Midwest states are part of an explosive litigation movement in which same-sex couples nationwide are fighting for the right to marry, or to have their existing marriages legally recognized. More than 75 lawsuits challenging gay marriage bans are pending in 32 states. Since December, courts have ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in 29 cases, with those victories now on appeal.