State Supreme Court Upholds Anti-Equality 2006 Amendment

Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued its ruling in McConkey v. J.B. Van Hollen, et.al, the case that William McConkey brought against the state challenging the legality of the 2006 referendum amendment to the state's constitution banning marriage equality and civil unions. The Court found against McConkey’s argument that the amendment should be nullified because the two questions in the referendum should have been voted on separately.

“Fair Wisconsin is disappointed in but respects the Court’s decision. We will continue working to protect Wisconsin’s 15,000 same-sex couples and build towards a legislative repeal of this discriminatory amendment to our state’s constitution,” says Fair Wisconsin Executive Director, Katie Belanger. “This decision highlights the importance of the domestic partnership protections that Fair Wisconsin helped to enact one year ago. Same-sex couples across our state have been availing themselves of the basic protections that domestic partnerships provide, such as hospital visitation, inheritance, and the ability to take leave from work to care for a sick or injured partner.”

“Domestic partnerships are just one step on the long road to equality,” continued Belanger. “Fair Wisconsin will continue working toward the day when all Wisconsin’s citizens will know true equality.”