Gov. Rick Snyder: Michigan won't recognize same-sex marriages yet

The 300 same-sex marriages performed in Michigan before a court imposed a stay are legal but will not be recognized, Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday.

A federal judge overturned the state's ban on gay marriage Friday. Four counties allowed same-sex couples to tie the knot before state Attorney General Bill Schuette obtained the stay from an appellate court late Saturday.

The stay was extended Wednesday and could hold until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the issue.

“With respect to the marriages, we believe those are legal and valid marriages,” Snyder said. “The stay being issued makes it more complicated."

Oakland County in the Detroit suburbs was one of the four where couples were able to marry Saturday. County Clerk Lisa Brown said Snyder was "wasting taxpayers' money" by pursuing the appeal.

“It is disappointing to have a governor who continues to discriminate against citizens of our state by refusing to extend rights to legally married couples," she said.

Other Democrats also criticized Snyder.

“You can’t have it both ways!” state Rep. Kate Segal of Battle Creek said via Twitter.