We have three weeks to beat this:
21 days until Wisconsin Votes "NO" on the civil unions and marriage ban.
This is what Wisconsin voters will see on their ballot:
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.
This goes beyond banning marriage for gay couples. It will also ban civil unions and threaten any legal protections for unmarried couples.
Wisconsin can be the first state in the nation to reject a constitutional ban on gay unions at the ballot box. FAIR Wisconsin has been active since Jan.2004, talking to tens of thousands of voters about the ban.
What they have found is that once people learn more about the ban, they oppose it.
The groups behind the ban are extremely well organized and well funded. Focus on the Family has deep, deep pockets, and they're determined to see this hate legislation pass.
Some quotes from Julaine Appling, from the Family Research Institute.
"[Marriage] is not some kind of private relationship between two quote loving and committed people..."
- The Joy Cardin Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, August 8, 2006
"The place was filled with palpable evil...it was a den of iniquity..."
- Wisconsin Family Connection, Week of August 25, 2003 referring to a hearing on the 2003 "Defense of Marriage Act"
"I think we've been extremely tolerant in allowing [homosexuals] to live wherever they choose."
- Isthmus, September 9, 2005
You can help.
If you live in Wisconsin, please go to the Fair Wisconsin website. Click on any of the options listed under 'Help Us Win.' Get busy. :)
The next three weeks are important ones. We need an army of people out there talking about why to vote "NO". The Dobsonites aren't kicking back, you can be sure.
Don't live in Wisconsin? It's an obstacle to be sure, but not an insurmountable one. Maybe you know someone who lives here. Related to someone? Know someone who is related to someone who lives here???? :) Put on your thinking caps, then CALL or EMAIL, get them on board.
The folks you know are Republican? FAIR Wisconsin is non-partisan, and your friends/relatives will surely want to hear what FAIR Republicans have to say.
Maybe the people you know are devout, and you think that they must support the ban? Check out Fair Christians or Jews for a FAIR Wisconsin, then give your friends a call.
Seniors and Labor/Professional groups have reasons to oppose the ban as well. Check them out. Chances are, if your friends work in Wisconsin, their union or group opposes the ban.
If all else fails....you can DONATE.
Please do what you can to stop this hateful ban from passing. Keep cheesehead country FAIR.
also at MLW