Proposed constitutional amendment
isn't discrimination; it's a hate crime
Anticipating that a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages and civil unions will be on the Wisconsin ballot next year, Action Wisconsin, which will organize to urge a "no" vote, has launched a new informational website.
Gay marriage is already illegal in Wisconsin, so there is no need for a constitutional amendment to do that. But the extremists who are pushing the measure want to take it a step further and ban recognition of any sort of civil unions or domestic partnerships, which are recognized in some instances. The proposed amendment isn't discrimination against gays; state law already discriminates. Adding a constitutional amendment is more in the category of a hate crime.
Republicans are waiting for final passage of the amendment so they can time it for the November ballot, when they think it will get their natural constituency, the yahoos and the wingnuts, out to the polls to bash gays and vote for their fellow Republican gay-haters.
The new website, launched a year to the day before the 2006 vote, features lists of leaders and organizations that publicly oppose the amendment, personal profiles of the people involved, a blog that will chart the campaign, tools for people to inform voters in their communities about the amendment, and background about what the amendment would mean for Wisconsin families.
Check it out at No on the Amendment.
posted by xoff @ 7:18 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
It violates the equal protection clause in the following:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
The state is not a religious institution. State marriage is a contract; a civil union. You can not provide equal protection and the same time qualify the sex of the participants in a state sanctioned civil contract. The law abridges the privileges of citizens based on sex, it denys persons within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. By a strict interpretation of the Constitution, it is illegal.
What is the realm of the state is not the realm of the church. What is the realm of the church is not the realm of the state.
The liberty provided by seperation of church and state protects religion. Read about Cromwell to undestand what the founding fathers knew. If your church does not recognize same sex unions, then that is the business of you and your church, it is not the business of the state.
Homosexuals, bisexuals, queers and transgendered individuals of this state are becoming more accepted in the educational system. However, this is not about them. This has nothing to do with religion, it's the right of individuals according to the law. We are equal, men and women of all colors and sizes. Take that to the bank.
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