Wisconsin Supreme Court to Hear Marriage Equality Case
Posted on Nov 03, 2009 at 12:37 pm
November 2, 2009
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday morning a Northeast Wisconsin man’s appeal of a judge's ruling that the man did not have standing to challenge the constitutionality of a state amendment banning marriage equality. [Link]
Lambda Legal Joins Fair Wisconsin in Fight to Save Legal Protections for Same-Sex Couples and Their
Posted on Sep 22, 2009 at 11:27 am
September 22, 2009
In court papers that will be filed today, Lambda Legal is seeking to intervene on behalf of Fair Wisconsin and its members in a lawsuit brought by an antigay group attempting to strip away newly enacted domestic partnership protections for same-sex couples and their families. [Link]
EDITORIAL: Domestic Partners Deserve Benefits in Wisconsin
Posted on Aug 18, 2009 at 03:08 pm
August 17, 2009
The Wisconsin State Journal editorial board supports the state's domestic partnership registry, but believes including it in the state budget left the registry vulnerable to legal challenges such as the one recently mounted by the anti-gay group Wisconsin Family Action. [Link]
OP-ED: Wisconsin Domestic Registry is Step in the Right Direction
Posted on Aug 07, 2009 at 10:05 am
August 7, 2009
The Wasau Daily Herald editorial board supports Wisconsin's new domestic partnership registry as a step in the right direction, though notes that, "The rights granted to same-sex couples under the state's new domestic partner registry are not nearly the eqivalent of those provided to married couples." [Link]
Voice for Equality: Tammy Baldwin
Posted on Aug 07, 2009 at 09:35 am
Tammy Baldwin is currently serving her fifth term as a U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s 2nd district, which includes her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. She attended Smith College and received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1986, while still in law school, Tammy began her foray into politics by serving on the Dane County Board of Supervisors, a position she held until 1994. Tammy subsequently served on the Madison, Wisconsin City Council and then the Wisconsin State Assembly, until assuming the office of U.S. Congresswoman in 1999. Congresswoman Baldwin has been a trailblazer on many fronts. She is the first woman to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Congress. Moreover, she was the first ever openly gay non-incumbent and first lesbian to be elected a U.S. Representative. She has been a strong voice for equality for gay Americans and serves on the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Feingold is courted to push bill to overturn federal marriage ban
Posted on Aug 05, 2009 at 11:40 pm
July 31, 2009
Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Constitution Subcommittee, is considered a prime candidate to sponsor the Senate version of a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Feingold, whose panel has jurisdiction over DOMA, was one of 14 senators not to vote in favor of the law in 1996. [Link]
Wisconsin same-sex couples begin registering as domestic partners
Posted on Aug 03, 2009 at 12:55 pm
August 3, 2009
Protections put in place for gay couples through legislation contained in the Wisconsin state budget, signed by Democratic Governor Jim Doyle on June 29, took effect Monday. Provisions in the spending plan grant same-sex couples some of the same legal protections as spouses, including hospital visitation, inheritance, and medical leave rights. [Link]
OPINION: Leave domestic partner registry alone
Posted on Jul 27, 2009 at 12:59 pm
July 26, 2009
The Wasau Daily Herald on the anti-gay Wisconsin Family Council's campaign to challenge the state's domestic partner registry: "This response to the domestic partner registry cannot be justified as a protection of traditional marriage. It's simple discrimination, and it is wrong." [Link]
Groups move to deny basic domestic partnership rights to same-sex couples in Wisconsin
Posted on Jul 24, 2009 at 02:37 pm
July 23, 2009
Supporters of Wisconsin's discriminatory exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and civil unions Thursday asked the state Supreme Court to declare domestic partnerships unconstitutional as well. Under a provision that was part of the budget Governor Jim Doyle signed in June, couples will be able to apply for a declaration of domestic partnership with their county of residence starting next month. [Link]
Wisconsin to offer domestic partnerships
Posted on Jun 30, 2009 at 07:19 pm
July 1, 2009
With the budget signed Monday by Gov. Jim Doyle, Wisconsin has put domestic partnerships in place for same-sex couples. Couples will be offered 43 of the more than 200 rights and benefits extended to married couples, such as allowing domestic partners to take family and medical leave to care for a seriously ill partner, make end-of-life decisions and add health care coverage. [Link]