Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Advances in Wisconsin

Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Advances in Wisconsin

NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, March 5, 2004

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Assembly approved an amendement to the state Constitution Friday to ban same-sex marriages or civil unions to counter efforts elsewhere to legalize the partnerships.

After an all-night meeting, the lawmakers voted 68-27 to back the proposal and send it to the state Senate. More approval from lawmakers and voters would also be required for it to become law, with a statewide referendum coming no earlier than April 2005.

Wisconsin statutes already define marriage as a contract between a husband and a wife and do not recognize gay marriage. But backers fear a judge would overrule that.

"Amending our statutes is not going to address the problem," said Republican Rep. Mark Gundrum, the amendment's main author.

Fourteen states are seeking this year to amend their constitutions to ban same-sex marriages. States in recent years have already acted broadly in opposition to the prospect of same-sex marriages, passing Defense of Marriage laws in 38 states. And four have already amended their own constitutions to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Other developments:

New Paltz, N.Y., Mayor Jason West on Friday postponed a second round of same-sex weddings planned for Saturday so he can consult with state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer next week.

West said he hoped the one-week postponement would help foster an atmosphere of trust with Spitzer, who has issued a legal opinion that gay marriage is illegal in the state.

A religious rights law firm went to court to bar gay marriages in New York and said it would try to remove West from office. Meanwhile, a gay rights group plans to file a lawsuit in Manhattan seeking full marriage for same-sex couples.

Dozens of same-sex couples sought marriage licenses from the New York City clerk's office but were turned away Thursday with a letter explaining that gay marriages are illegal in the state. The mayor of suburban Nyack, John Shields, led his partner and other same-sex couples to apply for marriage licenses in Orangetown. All were denied.

Lawyers for San Francisco said they would file legal briefs Friday with the California Supreme Court in defense of gay marriage. The state and a traditional-marriage group have tried to invalidate thousands of same-sex marriages sanctioned in San Francisco during the last three weeks.

At least 100 gay couples lined up in Portland, Ore., as Multnomah County handed out licenses for a second day Thursday.

Democrat Gov. Ted Kulongoski has warned the marriages might be illegal and requested a legal opinion from Oregon's attorney general. Ministers and conservative lawmakers said they would file lawsuit as early as Friday to block the marriages.

The Kansas House gave tentative approval to a proposed amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage. The Michigan House will vote next week on a similar measure.

Editor's note:
FREE e-mail alerts from NewsMax.com – click here now!