(Image source:  WXYZ ) BY ALEX MALLIN Two men have challenged state and federal law by becoming Michigan’s first same sex couple to exchange vows. “I’m just happy that I can actually say I have a husband now. Instead of my partner, or domestic partner, or significant other, it’s my husband. So that’s kind of cool.” (Via  WXYZ ) Tim LaCroix and Gene Barfield made history, but the state, which voted in 2004 to put a constitutional ban on gay marriage, doesn’t legally recognize the act. (Via NBC ) The federal government doesn’t either, with the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that only recognizes marriages between a man and a woman. So, how did they make it work? LaCroix is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and according to federal law, Native American tribes are self governing and aren’t bound by state law. So after LaCroix contacted one of the tribe leaders, the tribe’s council convened and voted to accept marriage equality. (Via MLive ) Although the union is recognized by the reservation, the couple doesn’t know what the state will do when it comes to filing their taxes as a couple or sharing their healthcare plan. If they decide to move off the reservation, their marriage wouldn’t be recognized by the state. (Via The Inquisitr ) Tribal officials are also optimistic that the Defense of Marriage Act is currently in front of the US Supreme Court being challenged for its constitutionality. (Via NPR ) Not only that, but support for gay marriage is seeing higher popularity than ever. Even in Michigan, where a recent survey suggests that 56% of the state now approves of it.