Tag: Wisconsin

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Target signs on to support marriage equality in 7th Circuit Court appeal

Target announced Tuesday that it has signed an amicus, or friend of the court, brief in support of marriage equality in two cases currently before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The cases, Baskin v. Bogan, out of Indiana, and Wisconsin’s Wolf v. Walker, are both on appeal after federal district courts struck down same-sex marriage bans in those states.

Executive Vice President Jodee Kozlak explained the company’s position in this statement:

As our leadership team discussed signing on, we took time to consider the bigger questions at hand. This brief is important, as the issues it addresses have significant impact on businesses. But it is more than that and we agreed that now is the right time to more directly share our views on this issue.

It is our belief that everyone should be treated equally under the law, and that includes rights we believe individuals should have related to marriage.

Without getting into the specifics of a court case, this brief evaluates the issues created by states that both prohibit same-sex marriage and also refuse to recognize marriages that were conducted legally in other states. This position is particularly challenging for a large organization that operates nationally, such as Target. At Target, we have long offered comprehensive, competitive benefits to our LGBT team members and their families, often above what is legally required. We continue to do so today because we believe doing so is right for our team and for our business. But current laws — in places like Wisconsin and Indiana that are addressed in this brief – make it difficult to attract and retain talent. These disparate laws also create confusing and complicated benefits challenges across multiple states.

We believe that everyone – all of our team members and our guests – deserve to be treated equally. And at Target we are proud to support the LGBT community.

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Wisconsin’s domestic partnerships ruled constitutional by state supreme court

Lambda Legal announced today via press release that Wisconsin’s Domestic Partnership registry has been found to be constitutional by the state supreme court, thus ending an almost two year legal fight over the limited protections:

Today the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the state’s domestic partnership registry as constitutional, bringing a joyful end to a long legal battle by Lambda Legal on behalf of Fair Wisconsin and five intervening defendant couples.

“We’re thrilled that Wisconsin same-sex couples can keep the limited but very important protections that the domestic partnership registry grants them,” said Christopher Clark, Counsel for Lambda Legal. “The statute is clearly constitutional, and the Supreme Court of Wisconsin agreed with us. Gay and lesbian couples in Wisconsin no longer have to fear that the protections they have will be taken away by unnecessary anti-gay legal action.

Throughout the fight for marriage equality, we often hear that there’s no animus towards LGBT folks regarding these rights.  It’s just the word “marriage.”

And yet, even with the limited rights provided by domestic partnerships in Wisconsin, the haters attempted to take away those protections.

So, when you hear “I have nothing against gays” – be warned.

The 7th Circuit Appeals Court originally assigned a date of August 13 to hear arguments regarding overturning Wisconsin’s same-sex marriage ban, but promptly cancelled the arguments with no comment.

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Wisconsin: Federal judge stays same-sex marriage ruling

On hold for now.

I see the reasoning, but I’m still sad.

Via Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed:

A federal judge issued a final trial court order striking down Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex couples marrying, but she put her ruling on hold pending appeal.

“I conclude that Herbert v. Kitchen, compels me to stay the injunction,” U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb wrote, referencing the Supreme Court’s January decision halting same-sex marriages in Utah during the appeal of that case.

The ruling comes a week after her initial decision striking down the ban. At that time, she did not issue an injunction in the case and laid out a plan for resolving that question and the question of whether her eventually injunction should be stayed during the appeal in the coming weeks.

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Op-Ed of the Day: Wisconsin should drop appeal of marriage equality ruling

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

Excellent op-ed piece today from the editorial board of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel urging the state’s Attorney General and Governor to NOT appeal the recent court ruling overturning the ban on same-sex marriage in the state.

An excerpt:

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen feels obligated to try to block Friday’s federal court ruling overturning Wisconsin’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, so he asked two federal courts to stay the decision.

Instead, Wisconsin authorities should follow the lead of Pennsylvania, where a Republican governor last month said he would not appeal a similar ruling in that state. Gov. Tom Corbett had wanted to fight the ruling but then decided that he likely would lose an appeal. Attorney General Kathleen Kane, a Democrat, already had declined to appeal the ruling, saying the state’s ban was unconstitutional.

Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker should realize how rapidly the sand has shifted under their feet on this issue. In fact, the debate is nearly over, and their side is losing it.

The editorial goes on to quote a recent Marquette Law School poll, released May 21, which found 55% of registered voters in Wisconsin now favor allowing gay marriage. So, there.

I encourage folks to read the entire piece here.

Of course, Governor Walker is going to appeal the decision. It’s well known he has national political aspirations in the Republican Party and he can’t afford to not at least “appear” to oppose the ruling.

Whatever.

I appreciate the editor at the Journal-Sentinel for prescribing the approach that keeps equality for all in mind.

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Milwaukee pizzeria staff surprises newly-married couple

Receipt from Transfer Pizzeria and Cafe

Last Friday, with the late afternoon announcement that Wisconsin’s same-sex marriage ban had been found unconstitutional by a federal judge, Christopher Graham called his partner Andrew Capelle and made a dash for the Milwaukee County Court house – they were getting married!

And marry they did 🙂

After their own ceremony, the couple stayed to watch other shiny happy people enjoy the freedom to marry, and then headed off to celebrate with friends. They found themselves at Transfer Pizzeria & Cafe where another surprise would cap the happy day.

From Christopher Graham’s Facebook:

Yesterday, my husband and I could legally get married in Wisconsin. After our ceremony (and staying to witness several others) we stopped in last night for dinner to celebrate. When the check came, our server, Melissa, told us that our bill had been taken care of by the staff.

I just wanted to take a moment and thank you personally and publicly for the very kind gesture. It was an amazing day that we will never forget, especially how your restaurant and staff made it even more wonderful. Thank you!!

Just goes to show you that Wisconsin was and is more than ready for marriage equality.

If you’re in Milwaukee – make sure you stop by and see the warm and friendly folks at the Transfer Pizzeria & Cafe.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

(source)

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Wisconsin: Federal Judge denies Attorney General request for stay on marriage equality ruling

wisconsin

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb denied Wisconsin Attorney General’s request to stay her ruling issued last Friday which declared the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

Crabb indicated that a stay could be issued at some point, but she scheduled a hearing for June 19th to hear both sides thoughts on the implications of a stay.

“I will consider a stay as to what’s in the (final order,) but I’m not going to act today,” Crabb said at a Monday afternoon hearing.

For the time being, some counties will continue to issue marriage licenses to same-sex oouples. Dane, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties have issued over 200 marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, while others like Washington and Racine say they await more definitive orders.

From the Journal Sentinel:

Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell, a Democrat, stepped out of Crabb’s hearing Monday and said he would continue to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

“The status quo is what we’re doing now and (19) other counties, which is issuing marriage licenses,” McDonell told reporters.

Backing up McDonell was David Gault, an assistant corporation counsel in Dane County, which is controlled by a Democratic county executive and liberal county board. Gault said Crabb’s decision Friday was “unambiguous” and that there is no prohibition on same-sex couples getting married.

“We’re not speculating,” he said. “We’re following the black letter of her decision.”

Wisconsin law dictates that you must apply for a marriage license in the county with which a you live. So, couples in Washington county, for example, are still blocked from getting married until Crabb issues final orders on the ruling.

Attorney General JB Van Hollen has also filed a request for stay with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

(source)

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Federal judge strikes down Wisconsin ban on same-sex marriage

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb  has ruled that Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Wisconsin’s voters passed a constitutional ban against same-sex marriages in 2006, but the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and the law firm of Mayer Brown filed a lawsuit on behalf of eight Wisconsin couples challenging the ban.

Part of Friday’s ruling reads:

“It is DECLARED that art. XIII, § 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution violates plaintiffs’ fundamental right to marry and their right to equal protection of laws under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constiution.”

[snip]

“Personal beliefs, anxiety about change and discomfort about an unfamiliar way of life must give way to a respect for the constitutional rights of individuals…”

The state motioned to stay the case in March and to dismiss it in April, but both motions were denied. It’s not yet clear when same-sex marriages will be able to be performed in Wisconsin.

Several county clerks have prepared for this decision in advance with plans to beef up staff in case there is a sudden rush for couples to marry.  There is normally a five day waiting period between application and issuance of marriage licenses, but clerks may waive the waiting period in some cases for a $25 fee.  Some clerks have indicated they would be willing to do so for same-sex couples.

This is the 20th consecutive win for marriage equality since last summer’s SCOTUS decision on DOMA and Prop 8.

What a gift for pride celebrations!

Congratulations Wisconsin!

(source)

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Marquette University poll: Support for same-sex marriage at 55% in Wisconsin

According to a new Marquette University poll, support for marriage equality in Wisconsin now measures at 55% versus 37% opposing same-sex marriage.

A federal judge is currently considering the constitutionality of the state’s ban on the freedom to marry.  A ruling is expected soon.