Gay Rights Fight in Wisconsin
Update November 7, 2006:
Wisconsin's anti-gay marriage bill passed
Wisconsin is one of the states battling a constitutional amendment that will ban gay marriage in the Fall of 2006. The amendment in Wisconsin defines marriage between one man and one woman, but also has wording that will outlaw civil unions gay and straight couples.
Why should you care?
This constitutional amendment will not only ban same-sex marriage, but it will also ban civil unions, domestic partnerships and protections of any relationship--straight or gay--that approximates marriage. Marriage is more than a commitment of one person to another. A marriage license grants more than
1,000 rights, benefits, and responsibilities under federal law to the married couple. Wisconsin law grants nearly 200 benefits to married couples. These rights include things such as being able to visit a partner in the hospital, health insurance coverage and parenting rights. A law like this will hurt real families living in Wisconsin, both gay and straight.
What is the wording of the proposed amendment in Wisconsin?
"Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."
What Wisconsin Marriage Law Says
Wisconsin law already defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Same sex couples cannot currently marry in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is one of the few states that does not have a DOMA or Defense of Marriage Law.
What will happen if the Marriage Amendment passes in Wisconsin?
On it's surface, the amendment will deny gay and lesbian couples from being able to marry or enter into civil unions. But in states with similar bans on same-sex unions, the effects have been far reaching.
In Ohio a judge threw out felony domestic violence charges against a man who was charged with assaulting his girlfriend because they were not married. The charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault charges.
In Michigan state employees were stripped of domestic partner benefits after that state passed a similar constitutional amendment.
Even though the faculty of Columbia College in Missouri voted to approve domestic partnership benefits, the college president decided to kill the proposal after the constitutional amendment was passed.
Expect similar rulings to happen in Wisconsin if the constitutional amendment passes.
What can you do?
Here are a few things you can consider:
Talk to your family and friends in Wisconsin about the implications of this amendment in your life
Get involved with Fair Wisconsin
Write a letter to the editor of a Wisconsin paper
Attend an Wisconsin Gay Pride or Fundraising Event
Donate money or services to the cause
