Daily Reminder: Same sex marriage is unconstitutional in WI

[LeftHander]

The "good" citizens of Wisconsin who voted to discriminate against gay people also returned Democrat Herb Kohl to the Senate and reelected Democrat Jim Doyle to his second term as Governor.

Just a friendly reminder that the "good" people have voted to enusure gay people remain "queer".

"If you are willing to discriminate against me in the voting booth what makes you think I am going to sit here and want to listen to you?"

Some moderate anti-gay marriage "redemocrat" answer me that?

Yes I know this is flame bait....I am burning inside....

But I know this will fall into "don't ask, don't tell, don't look, don't speak to it category" and will sink...the moderate anti-gay marriage people will remain silent hoping it will go away...come on....I know 10-15% of the voting democrats voted in Wisconsin to make same sex marriage impossible.

[closeupready]

1. I used to live there.

The people there do try very hard to be fair, but on some issues, they are just not good about.

Keep in mind that they were either the first or second state in the United States to constitutionally prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians.

So it's a mixed bag.

And actually, that just raised a question in my own mind - if their constitution prohibits discrimination against gays and lesbians, how can an amendment enshrining discrimination against gays and lesbians be ... constitutional?

[MADem]

5. Sounds like a challenge to me--I'd be surprised if someone doesn't hustle and go for it NT

[closeupready]

8. Yes, it would be worth pursuing

I think.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Deep13]

3. I didn't discriminate in the voting booth.

Ohio's version of that passed despite my vote, not because of it. A lot of people have it in their heads that there is something really wrong with same-sex marriages. I don't know why but can only suppose it is one of those basic cultural assumptions that will not be swayed by any fact-based argument. Perhaps people implicitly believe that the reason for marriage is procreation. I don't really know. Whatever the cause, the voters' obstinance on this issue should not prevent us from moving foreward on education, the evironment, ending the war or economic justice.

I know you have particular cause to be angry, though you should not be surprised given recent trends. Nevertheless, the aforementioned issues affect everyone. That is why you should continue to listen.

[MADem]

4. Well, those "good people" will be very embarrassed one day, won't they?

They will be like the same folks who never had a problem with white and colored rest rooms, waiting rooms, or requirements that the 'coloreds' go to the balcony whilst the palefaces sat in the orchestra. They'll be in the same category as the "Women's Place is in the Home" crowd, who felt that women shouldn't be paid as much as men because "A man has to support a FAMILY." They'll be in the same crowd that thought a Sandra Day O'Conner could only be a law CLERK because, despite her degree and passing of the bar, she was "only a woman." There will come a time when they deny they ever felt that people should be discriminated against on the basis of who they choose to associate with, or what they do with their fiddly bits, or with whom they want to legalize a binding relationship.

It's unfortunate that the people of WI have to wait for this enlightenment. They aren't taking the dignity away from those they are discriminating against, they've taken the dignity away from themselves in the long haul. They'll feel the shame one day.

I can report, FWIW, that the Commonwealth (some may say People's Republic) of Massachusetts has NOT fallen into the sea now that marriage isn't prohibited here based on orientation. In fact, the entire subject, after all of the initial fuss and discussion, now merits a resounding "Ho hum, so what, big deal?" It's great for the people who deserve the same rights as everyone else, it's great for businesses that specialize in weddings and receptions, and nothing "bad" has happened as a consequence.

[Cerridwen]

6. Was this the one that was worded in such a way that a vote

Yes meant you were against gay marriage and a vote No meant you supported gay marriage?

I remember hearing that in one state the anti-gay "people" were busy muddying the issue so that unless you took the time to educate yourself, you could vote against what you actually support.

[HereSince1628]

9. there was muddling of things in the run-up to the election but

I think that most everybody understood by the day of the election.

It was a terrible thing to see it pass.

I'd like to know what effect the ethnicity of Democratic voters had on Democratic voters' votes for the amendment.

I'd be very surprised if that isn't many times more a factor than Wisconin being populated by brainless people.

[China_cat]

7. Same here in SC

and I'm so angry about it. I did my part. I voted against the prop. It wasn't enough. I'm sorry.

[hfojvt]

10. what was the vote total?

Herb Kohl is kind of a DINO, although he may have gotten better under Bush than he was under Clinton.

Wisconsinites also re-elected Tammy Baldwin to her fifth term.

I think it is better to listen, because it encourages opponents to listen and is more likely to change their mind than if you brandish a knife or a rhetorical knife and start slashing. The law discriminates against knife fighters.

In the first place, how can you be sure that alot of Republicans didn't vote for Doyle and Kohl? I am betting that some did. Previous to Doyle, Tommy Thompson was Governor-for-life, so some Democrats were probably voting for him.

It's gonna take alot more listening and persuading to legalize gay marriage. Get fired up and keep pushing, but don't go ballistic. I say this as an ally.

[LeftHander]

11. bullistic....

I went from married, in the closet and denial to something less than a citizen...


ask me again how I feel....


rather....ask yourself how you feel about it...I know how I feel.

I only have a few decades left on this earth...I would like the opportunity to marry....if it presents itself.

[leesa]

12. I'm so sorry for you. My hope is that they are just lagging behind a bit

The mainstream churchfolk there, non-whacko fundy types, have been brianwashed into the "being gay is a choice" mode and they have forgotten what Jesus would have said or done. I'm hoping they are coming out of the Kool-aid haze soon and will begin to remember the teachings of Jesus they pretend to espouse...most voters there would call themselves Christians, I believe.

You need to enter their lives...as scary as that might seem. They need to know you are humans with human needs.