KALAMAZOO (WKZO) -- A protest rally was held in Bronson Park Sunday, opposing the state’s ban on unmarried partner benefits for municipal and school employees. 

Several dozen turned out, including a few city officials including Mayor Bobby Hopewell and Rep. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), who spoke to the crowd.    The ACLU is challenging the ban as unconstitutional.

Supporters of the ban say it's in the spirit of the 2004 vote that defined marriage as between one man and one woman and could save millions of dollars.