Fair Wisconsin in Platteville!

Fair Wisconsin is thrilled to be participating in the Rainbow Conference on Saturday, October 3rd at UW-Platteville! As a representative of the organization, I will be presenting on current legislation from 12.15 P.M. to 1.15 P.M. and then again from 4 P.M. to 5 P.M.

Two other Fair Wisconsinites will be making the journey with me. Laura Gutknecht, chief engineer at WORT 89.9 FM and the newest member of the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund board, will be presenting "Transgender Education" from 12.15 P.M. to 1.15 P.M. Kay Heggestad, PFLAG Regional Director and proud board member of Fair Wisconsin Inc., will be presenting on "Being an Ally" from 2.45 to 3.45 and again from 4 to 5. Following the presentations Kay, Laura and I will be taking part in a panel discussion with our fellow presenters.

We look forward to an exciting day of exchanging information and building connections within the LGBTQA community. Hope to see you in Platteville!

Looking for an easy way to give? Try our Workplace Giving Program!

This is the season when many employers conduct employee payroll deduction charitable contribution drives. By giving through your workplace, you can support the work of Fair Wisconsin on a monthly basis. Even a small contribution each month adds up to a huge yearly impact for fairness!

Whether your workplace participates in the United Way or in Community Shares (or both), you can help the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund educate the public about the harmful effects of discrimination towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, by directing your contribution as follows:

If your employer participates in:

Community Shares of Wisconsin(for a full list of participating employers click here:)

The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund is agency # 201.

Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee (for a full list of participating employers click here:)

The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund is agency # 209.

State Employee Combined Campaign (SECC) (for State and University Employees not in Dane or Milwaukee Counties:) Click here for more information

The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund is agency #201.

Milwaukee County SECC (for Milwaukee County State and University Employees:) Click here for more information

The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund is agency #209.

Dane County SECC (for Dane County State and University Employees:) Click here for more information.

The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund is agency #201.

Combined Federal Campaign (for federal employees:) Click here for more information.

The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund is agency # 86155.

United Way Campaigns:
If your company has a United Way campaign, and you have the option of writing in a charity not listed, please consider the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund. You can also ask your employer to consider running parallel campaigns with both Community Shares and the United Way next year. Please consider writing in "Fair Wisconsin Education Fund" -- which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

If your employer does not offer a workplace giving program:
Ask them to consider starting one with the Community Shares organization in your area. Workplace giving is an easy way to make a contribution and in some cases can be matched by your employer to double the impact of your gift!

Not interested in Workplace Giving? There are many other ways to be involved. Check back later this week to see how a small monthly commitment can add up to a big impact though our GEM (Give Every Month) Club!

Domestic Partner Benefit Information for State Employees

Fair Wisconsin is pleased to share with you some additional information regarding the newly-enacted domestic partner benefits for state employees. The Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has developed a reference guide, available on the ETF Internet site at:

http://www.etf.wi.gov/publications/domestic_partners.htm

The new provisions permit same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners of state employees to receive benefit programs administered by ETF, including the Wisconsin Retirement System, group health insurance, deferred compensation, life insurance and other programs. The new provisions are effective on January 1, 2010.

The material on the ETF site includes a "frequently asked question" document, an affidavit verifying the creation of a domestic partnership for Ch. 40 benefit purposes, and other important information. The affidavit must be completed and submitted to ETF to establish a domestic partnership and to be eligible for the benefits administered by ETF.

For information about the domestic partner registry, which is separate from domestic partner benefits for state employees, click here.

Students for a Fair Wisconsin take to the lake!

Supporters of fairness at UW-Madison gathered last night at the Union Terrace for an evening of fine dining (delicious Ian's pizza pies) and canoeing on Lake Mendota!

Natasha Lopez-Moreira, Chair of Students for a Fair Wisconsin-Madison, opened the kickoff with a welcome to the new students, introducing the other campus organizers (interns Matt Northey and Cat Arbegust) and the Fair Wisconsin events intern, Dom Boyle.

Natasha then gave a brief overview of the exciting developments in Wisconsin that students might have missed over summer break: the passage of domestic partnership protections in the biennial state budget and Fair Wisconsin's commitment to defending these protections from a legal challenge brought forth by the anti-gay Wisconsin Family Action and Alliance Defense Fund. Students were heartened to hear about the progress being made right here at home and engaged in a lively discussion about the potential outcomes of the legal challenge.

In marked contrast to Tuesday's torrential downpour, the clear skies and spectacular sunset made ideal canoeing weather ... although Natasha and her girlfriend/canoe co-pilot, Lauren, can confirm that the water's a little chilly this time of year!

Other Fair Wisconsin student groups around the state are keeping busy as well. We're excited to welcome on board Will at UW-Milwaukee! Jeff in Green Bay is busily planning bake sales throughout the fall; we'll keep you updated on when the fruits of his (group's) labor will be ready for tasting! Meanwhile, Heather at UW-Whitewater is preparing for keynote speakers and the screening of an LGBT documentary this fall.

Want to learn more about Fair Wisconsin at your campus? Contact me at 608.441.0143 ext. 313 or tim.ewing@fairwisconsin.com.

Katie Belanger and Juliane Appling on Milwaukee Public Radio

On Tuesday, Fair Wisconsin was proud to announce that it has joined forces with Lambda Legal to defend Wisconsin's new domestic partnership law and the critical legal protections it offers to caring and committed couples across our state.

Later that day, Fair Wisconsin Executive Director Katie Belanger and Wisconsin Family Action CEO Juliane Appling appeared on Milwaukee Public Radio to discuss case now pending before the State Supreme Court. Click here to listen to that interview, and pay close attention to the rationale that Appling uses to deny basic protections to all Wisconsin couples: that being a couple isn't about the two people involved, its all about "procreation" and "the next generation."

We know that couples from across the state and across our nation would disagree. Now more than ever, being a couple is about love and commitment. And we know that domestic partnerships are not about being gay or straight - they are about allowing caring, committed couples the basic protections they need to be able to take care of each other.

Please join Fair Wisconsin today in telling our side of the story - that domestic partnerships are critical to Wisconsin's families because no one should ever be turned away at their partner's hospital door, or have to make the heartbreaking decision to leave a job in order to care for a sick or injured partner. Click here to contribute today!

Lambda Legal Joins Fair Wisconsin in Fight to Save Legal Protections for Same-Sex Couples and Their Families

In court papers 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.

"There are almost 15,000 same-sex couples and their families living in Wisconsin who need the basic protections provided by domestic partnerships. The law is far from marriage equality, but it helps couples in times of illness and crisis,” said Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Midwest Regional Office based in Chicago. “We plan to vigorously defend the important legal protections that the legislature validly enacted to protect Wisconsin citizens."

"To suggest that these few protections granted to same-sex couples and their families resemble the much revered status of marriage is preposterous. The domestic partnership law and the constitutional amendment barring same-sex couples from marriage are not in conflict with each other," added Clark.

Fair Wisconsin, along with national and regional allies, recently helped enact these important domestic partnership protections for same-sex couples, the first piece of pro-fairness legislation in 27 years. Fair Wisconsin, the main opponents to the 2006 amendment banning marriage equality and civil unions, is doing everything it can to defend the new law.

"Domestic partnerships are an important step toward ensuring that someone in a caring, committed relationship is able to care for his or her partner,” said Katie Belanger, Executive Director of Fair Wisconsin. “No one should ever have to worry about being blocked at their partner’s hospital room door, or have to make the heartbreaking decision to quit their job in order to care for a seriously ill partner. This isn’t about being gay or straight—it’s about being decent."

The state passed a constitutional amendment in November 2006 that prohibits marriage for same-sex couples in Wisconsin and bars recognition of any legal status that is “substantially similar” to marriage. Earlier this year, on June 29, 2009, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed domestic partnerships into law. Domestic partnerships grant limited, but important legal protections to same-sex couples, including hospital visitation and the ability to take a family medical leave to care for a sick or injured partner.


Wisconsin Family Action, an antigay group, filed a lawsuit against the state arguing that the domestic partnership law is a violation of the antigay constitutional amendment barring marriage equality. After the State Attorney General announced that his office would not defend the state against the claim, Governor Doyle appointed special counsel to represent the state.

Wisconsin was the first state in the union to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace in 1982, but many members of the gay community wonder if this attack on the domestic partnership registry will mean a step back for fairness in their state. David Kopitze and Paul Klawiter, who have been together for nearly 40 years, are worried about what losing these basic protections might mean for their family.

Said Kopitze, "Since we can’t get married in Wisconsin, the domestic partnership registry provides us with a few fundamental protections that we need to take care of each other that married couples in Wisconsin can assume they will always have. Paul and I just want to make sure that we can visit each other in the hospital and take care of each other as we grow older."

Take Action: The Respect for Marriage Act Introduced in Congress!

Fair Wisconsin is thrilled to share with you some exciting news from the Equality Federation, the national coalition of state-based LGBT advocacy organizations of which Fair Wisconsin is a proud member. So often we share with you what is happening right here in the Badger State, such as domestic partnership protections, the legal challenge or our local events; however, LGBT advocacy on the national front is just as crucial to securing legal protections for same-sex couples.


This week, our very own Representative Tammy Baldwin, along with Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in the United States House of Representatives. This bill will repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and ensure that legal marriages of all couples are recognized by the federal government.


Take action! Ask your Representative to cosponsor the Respect for Marriage Act! We need your help to persuade all members of Congress that this bill is critical for families across our country.


Please contact your member of Congress today and ask him or her to cosponsor The Respect for Marriage Act of 2009.

Nashville Makes History with Non-Discrimination Ordinance!

Memphis Flyer
BY BIANCA PHILLIPS
SEP 16, 2009


Following Shelby County's lead, Nashville/Davidson County's metro council passed an ordinance Tuesday night banning discrimination of metro government employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.


The ordinance passed with 24 council members in favor and 15 votes against it. One member was absent during the vote. The ordinance was sponsored by councilwoman Megan Barry who told the Tennessean that the fight for passage was worth the effort.


The Tennessean reported that the council chambers were packed with people on both sides of the issue. One audience member, who opposed the ordinance, actually drove from Bartlett to attend the meeting. Liese Thomas told the paper, "I believe that one man and one woman's marriage is the stabilizing force of all healthy civilizations, and where there are any deviations, the civilizations start to crumble."


Reported the Tennessean: "Even though the bill didn't address the issue of marriage, Thomas said her argument applied because approval of any 'deviant behavior' inevitably leads to destruction of values."


The Tennessee Equality Project, who backed the Nashville ordinance, plans to introduce a similar ordinance to the Memphis City Council after the October special mayoral election.

Here, There and Everywhere!

It's been a busy couple of days for the Fair Wisconsin team! On Sunday I traveled with our Executive Director, Katie Belanger, and Fair Wisconsin Education Fund board member Christopher Guest to Eau Claire for a celebration of domestic partnership protections, held at the LGBT Community Center of the Chippewa Valley.

Katie, Christopher and I were thrilled to meet face-to-face with so many enthusiastic supporters and congratulate the happily-registered couples. We were joined by a few pro-fairness legislators from the Chippewa Valley: Senator Kathleen Vinehout (who shared with us some of her energetic speech from Fighting Bob Fest about the history of the LGBT civil rights movement) and Representatives Jeff Smith and Kristen Dexter. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than celebrating with old friends and new acquaintances (and enjoying the delicious refreshments graciously provided by Christopher Lannone and staff of the Community Center!).

Yesterday morning, I had the privilege of attending a press conference in Pewaukee to mark the kickoff of the Gay Neighbor campaign, an innovative new billboard campaign in Milwaukee, Racine, Ozaukee and Waukesha Counties to promote visibility and awareness of LGBT couples and families. Speakers included Maria Cadenas, Executive Director of Cream City Foundation; Denise Cawley of Circore Creative; and two of the featured families from the campaign. Congratulations to Cream City Foundation and all of its partners who have worked so hard to make this bold new campaign a reality! For more information, visit http://www.gayneighbor.org/index.php.

Congratulations to St. Paul, MN!

Fair Wisconsin would like to congratulate our neighbors in St. Paul, Minnesota, for successfully enacting a domestic partner registry for the city!

Following a unanimous vote of the Saint Paul City Council on July 22nd creating Minnesota's third domestic-partner registry, and being signed that evening by Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, the Saint Paul Domestic Partner Registry came into effect on September 2nd.

Couples wishing to register with their community as domestic-partners may do so by obtaining forms from City Hall and paying a nominal fee. "While largely a symbolic move by the City, the fact that our state's capital has joined Minneapolis and Duluth in doing what it can to promote fairness for same-sex couples represents another sign of progress toward full equality," says OutFront Minnesota Legal Director Phil Duran.

Fair Wisconsin wishes St. Paul couples all the best, and applauds our friends at OutFront Minnesota for achieving this important step toward fairness for all Minnesota couples!

In the News: Week of Sept 1

Adoption Laws Outdated
The Spectator (UW-Eau Claire)
The point is that even in Wisconsin, there are so many legal hurdles preventing same-sex couples from starting families and it doesn't make any sense. The only reason that, a perfectly fit, excellent father (by several accounts), cannot adopt the children he has been raising for years is that he's gay …


Meet J.B. Van Hollen, Wisconsin’s Sarah Palin
The Cap Times
What was Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen thinking when he announced that he would not defend the state's decision to allow unmarried couples to register as domestic partners and enjoy some of the civil benefits accorded to families in any civil society? …


County Board nixes fees for domestic partner licenses
Sawyer County Record
“Why do we have to approve a back-door method of condoning same-sex marriages,” said supervisor Ken Maki. “This is probably going to be overturned in the state Supreme Court anyway because it’s illegal in Wisconsin.” …


Domestic partnership law makes estate planning options’
Wisconsin Law Journal
When it comes to the new law that outlines the rights and benefits for domestic partners in Wisconsin, attorneys say that at this point there are more questions than answers. But the addition of Ch. 770 in the Wisconsin Statutes may be encouraging more same-sex couples to explore their options when it comes to estate planning.

Fair Wisconsin's going back to school!

It's hard to believe it's that time of year again: the nights are a little cooler, there's just a hint of color in the leaves ... and campus is suddenly teeming with returning students. Fair Wisconsin is also heading back to school--kicking off the academic year with a variety of activities on universities across the state!

Organizers on two of our campuses are already off and running. Our rockstar Spring 2009 intern Emily Gordon has returned to head up our student organization at UW-Madison, Students for a Fair Wisconsin, and has apparently been cooking up creative ideas all summer! Emily is joined by our new Vice Chair of Students for a Fair Wisconsin, Natasha Lopez-Moreira. Emily and Natasha are excited to promote LGBT issue awareness and create positive change on campus.

The UW-Madison organizers are busy this week planning our fall kickoff event ("Cake n' Canoes!") to be held Thursday, September 17, 6pm - 8pm at the Memorial Union. Stop by to sample some cake, learn about recent legislative developments, and try your hand at rowing on Lake Mendota!

Looking a little further north, Fair Wisconsin is thrilled to partner with the LGBT organization at UW-Green Bay, SAGA. The new student group, SAGA-FW, including our energetic intern Jeff Mayefske, is already planning a number of fantastic events for the campus and community this fall. Stay tuned for updates!

Want to learn more about these or other Students for Fair Wisconsin chapters or don't have a Students for a Fair Wisconsin organization on your campus? Call or email me at 608.441.0143 ext. 313 or tim.ewing@fairwisconsin.com.

For those of you in middle or high school, be sure to get involved with the gay-straight alliance (GSA) or similar club at your school. Don't have one, or have a question about organizing at your school? Check out resources at GSA for Safe Schools (www.gsaforsafeschools.org). Additionally, GSA for Safe Schools is always looking for high school student volunteers to lead workshops and help plan their various conferences. Contact Tim Michael (timm@gsaforsafeschools.org or 608.661.4141) to find out more. If you're in the Fox Valley, contact Jesse Heffernan (920.734.2233) at GLBT Partnership/Harmony Cafe to find out about local GSA leadership opportunities.

Welcome back to school, students!

Celebrate in Eau Claire with Fair Wisconsin!

Mark your calendars! Fair Wisconsin is coming to the Chippewa Valley!

Come and join us in Eau Claire to celebrate domestic partnerships, Wisconsin's first piece of pro-fairness legislation in twenty-seven years! Meet and mingle with Fair Wisconsin staff and pro-fairness legislators such as Senator Kathleen Vinehout and Representative Kristen Dexter, and enjoy good company and delicious food (provided by Christopher Iannone and staff of the LGBT Community Center) as we celebrate this important step toward LGBT equality!

Sunday, September 13, 3.30pm - 5.30 pm
The LGBT Community Center of the Chippewa Valley
510 S Farwell St
Eau Claire, WI 54701

Please RSVP to Tim Ewing (tim.ewing@fairwisconsin.com) at your earliest convenience. Can't wait to see you in Eau Claire!