Endorsements

A diverse coalition of hundreds of organizations, faith groups, and community leaders have already spoken out against the civil unions and marriage ban. They have either signed an endorsement form, made public statements, or passed a resolution against the ban.

Unions & Professional Groups

AFT Wisconsin
AFL-CIO Wisconsin
AFSCME PEOPLE Conference
AFSCME Council 24, Local 2748
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Communications Workers of America Wisconsin
Madison Professional Police Officers' Association
Madison Teachers Inc.
Middleton Education Association
Milwaukee County Labor Council
Milwaukee Graduate Assistant Association
SEIU Local 1199W
Stevens Point Area Education Association
Teaching Assistants' Association, UW-Madison
United Auto Workers Community Action Program (statewide)
United Faculty & Academic Staff
Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)
Wisconsin Professional Employees Council, Local 4848

Organizations

Statewide
9 to 5 National Association of Working Women
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
AIDS Network
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
Asian Pacific Americans for Progress
Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin
Attorneys Against the Ban
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
Freedom From Religion Foundation
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin
NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin
National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin chapter
National Organization for Women, Wisconsin chapter
National Women’s Conference Committee
Peace Action
People for the American Way
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
United Council of UW Students
UW System Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO)
UW-System Board of Regents
Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers
Wisconsin Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Wisconsin Bar Association, Elder Law Section
Wisconsin Bar Association, Individual Rights & Responsibilities Section
Wisconsin Bar Association, Public Interest Section
Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers
WI Council on Developmental Disabilities
Wisconsin Council on Children & Families
Wisconsin Citizen Action
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Wisconsin Medical Society
Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice
Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans
Wisconsin Women’s Network

Local or regional
7 Rivers LGBT Resource Center
ACLU-WI Chippewa Valley Chapter
Block Out Wisconsin
Capital Area UniServ-North
Gay/Straight Alliance for Safer Schools
Hephatha
House of Infiniti
Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin
League of Women Voters Dane County
Lesbian Alliance of Metro Milwaukee
Latinos United for Change & Advancement (LUChA)
LGBT Community Center of the Chippewa Valley
League of Women Voters Door County
Life Adventures Therapies
Madison Equal Opportunities Commission
Madison Women for Peace
Mental Health Center of Dane Co., Inc.
Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Milwaukee County Commission on Aging
NAACP Madison
National Organization for Women, Milwaukee chapter
Outreach
PFLAG Door County
PFLAG Fox Cities
PFLAG Madison
PFLAG Milwaukee
Positive Voice
The Psychology Center
SAGE
The Urban League of Greater Madison
United for Diversity
UW-Green Bay Social Work Club
UW-Madison Faculty Senate
UW-Parkside's Rainbow Alliance
UW-System Board of Regents
Washington Heights Rainbow Association
Women’s Choice

Business

Business Alliance (LGB Chamber of Commerce)
Downtown Madison Inc.
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
Madison Development Corporation
Wisconsin Federation of Business & Professional Women

Political

Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Democratic Party of Dane County
Democratic Party of Milwaukee County
Democratic Party of Walworth County
Ahnapee River Green Party
Four Lakes Green Party
Greater Milwaukee Green Party
Iowa County Democratic Party
Libertarian Party of Brown County
Lake Winnebago Green Party
Libertarian Party of Wisconsin
Outagamie County Democratic Party
Price County Democratic Party
Progressive Dane
Sauk County Democrats
Wisconsin Green Party
Wood County Democratic Party

Faith Communities

Regional faith organizations representing over 500,000 congregational members have passed resolutions against the civil unions and marriage ban. These include three regional synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, three presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA), statewide United Methodist Conference and the statewide conference of the United Church of Christ. Numerous Unitarian Universalist, Jewish, Buddhist, and Quaker leaders and congregations are active in the statewide effort.

Regional
Episcopal Church (USA)
Alliance of Baptists
Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists
Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America)
South Central Wisconsin Synod of the ELCA
La Crosse Area Synod of the ELCA
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
Wisconsin United Methodist Conference
Winnebago Presbytery
Milwaukee Presbytery
John Knox Presbytery
Wisconsin Jewish Conference
Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations
Madison Jewish Community Council
American Jewish Committee, Milwaukee Chapter
Tikkun Community of Spiritual Progressives
Metropolitan Community Churches
Northern Yearly Meeting Religious Society of Friends
Wisconsin Christian Alliance for Progress
Christians for Equality
Dignity, USA (Catholic)
Integrity, USA (Episcopal)

Congregations

The Episcopal Church (USA) passed this resolution through the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies opposing the state ban on civil unions and marriage as well as the federal ban in mid June, 2006. This is the first national church body to oppose the Wisconsin ban.

The Winnebago Presbytery represents approximately 9,000 members. In September 2005, they passed this resolution (pdf) against the constitutional ban on civil unions and marriage for lesbian and gay couples.

Individual congregations around Wisconsin are also passing resolutions. The Unitarian Universalist West congregation in Brookfield passed this statement (pdf) that calls for support of marriage equality and opposes efforts to write discrimination into our constitution. Temple Beth El of Madison passed this resolution in opposition to the ban.

The ELCA Synod of Greater Milwaukee includes 141 congregations and 96,000 baptized members serving in southeast Wisconsin. They passed this resolution in May 2005.

Faith Leaders (Note: For individual leaders, affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.)
Rabbi Steven Adams, Emanu-El, Waukesha
Rev. Roy Alberswerth, (retired), UCC, Sussex
Rev. Dee M. Anderson, West Granville Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Curt Anderson, First Congregational UCC, Madison
Rev. Paul G. Anderson, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Marshall
Rev. Carlos Aranda, Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Jennifer Bannerman, First Congregational Church of East Troy, UCC
Rev. Stephen Bartelt, LCMS
Rabbi Renee Bauer, Congregation Mayim Rahim, Minneapolis
Rev. Carol R. Baumgartner, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Racine
Rev. Paul Beckel, First Universalist Unitarian Church of Wausau
Rabbi Jonathan Biatch, Temple Beth El, Madison
Rev. Jim Bender, North Shore Presbyterian, Shorewood
Rabbi Marc Berkson, Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun, River Hills
Rev. Roger Bertschausen, Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Appleton
Rev. A. John Bischoff, Jr., Immanuel Lutheran, Cedarburg
Rev. Robert Blackburn, United Methodist Church, Berlin
Rev. Howard Bowman (retired), UCC, Waukesha
Rev. Winton Boyd, Orchard Ridge UCC, Madison
Rev. Tisha Brown, Community of Hope UCC, Madison
Rev. Lew Broyles-In Memoriam, Metropolitan Community Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Roger Buffett (not under call), UCC, Madison
Rev. Sue Burwell. Monona UMC, Monona
Rev. Arthur Christofersen (retired), UCC
Rev. Mark M. Clinger, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Madison
Rev. Sharon Cook, Bethany UMC, Madison
Rev. Rachel S. Cobb, Crossroads United Methodist Church, Waunakee
Rabbi David Cohen, Congregation Sinai, Milwaukee
Father S Joseph Collova, St Edith Stein Church
Rev. Kelly Crocker, First Unitarian Society of Madison
Rabbi Dan Danson, Mt. Sinai Congregation, Wausau
Rev. Glen Danz, Zion UCC, Milwaukee
Rev. Sue D'Alessio, Mequon United Methodist, Mequon
Rev. Steve Davis (retired), UCC, Antigo
Rev. Virgie Davis, Zion UCC, Dale
Rev. Rick Deines (retired), ELCA, Milwaukee
Rev. Deborah Dean-Ware, Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, Madison
Rev. Rick Deines, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milwauke
Rev. Carol DiBiasio-Snyder, First Congregational Church UCC, Oshkosh
Rev. Jan Doleschal, Brown Deer UCC, Brown Deer
Rev. Jeanie Douglas, UCC
Rev. David Dragseth, Lake Park Lutheran, Milwaukee
Rev. Judine Duerwaechter, St Peter UCC, Kiel
Rev. Joe Ellwanger, Hephatha Lutheran Church, Milwaukee
Interim Pastor Rev. Mary Ehrgood, Mukwonago UCC, Mukwonago
Rev. Doug Fauth, First Congregational UCC, Baraboo
Rabbi Dena Feingold, Beth Hillel Temple, Kenosha
Rev. Shirley R. Funk, Lake Edge Lutheran Church, Monona
Rev. Sue Gaeta, Divine Word Lutheran Church (ELCA), Milwaukee
Rev. Marilyn S. Gamm, Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, Madison
Interim Dean Bruce Gardner, Christ Church Episcopal, Eau Claire
Rev. David Gaskill, Emmanuel UCC, Oshkosh
Rev. Dr. Sandra E. Graham, Redeemer UCC
Rev. Gary J. Green, Episcopal, Kenosha
Rabbi Yosi Gordon, Temple Sholom, Eau Claire
Rev. Glenn Halbe (retired), UCC, Racine
Rev. Aurelia Hale, First Congregational Church UCC, Madison
Rev. Norlan Hanson (retired), ELCA
Rev. Calvin Harfst, Parkside Presbyterian, Madison
Wendell Harris, Humanist Ministries, Inc., Milwaukee
Betty R. Hasselkus, First Congregational Church UCC, Madison
Rev. D. Janet Hays (retired), UCC, Platteville
Rev. Al Heggen, (retired), ELCA, Milwaukee
Interim Pastor John Helt, Lake Edge UCC, Madison
Rev. Donald Herron, (retired), ABC, Mukwonago
Rev. Steve Hillyard, UCC
Rev. Julia Hollister, First Congregational Church UCC, Sheboygan
Rev. Robert Horst (retired), UCC, Milwaukee
Rev. Deborah Howland, Trinity UCC, Brookfield
Rev. Sandra L. Ingham, Green Bay Area and Prarie Lakes Unitarian Unversailst Fellowships
Rev. L. Gail Irwin, Preble Park Presbyterian, Green Bay
Rev. Jon Jacobs, Ascension Lutheran Church, ELCA, Milwaukee
Rev. Dennis Jacobsen, Incarnation Lutheran Church, ELCA, Milwaukee
Rev. Gary D. Johnson, Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa
Rev. Kathleen Kahl, Ebenezer UCC, Chilton
Rev. Earl Kammerud (retired), Presbyterian, Milwaukee
Rabbi Kenneth Katz, Beth Israel Center, Madison
Rev. Drew Kennedy, First Unitarian of Milwaukee, Milwaukee
Rev. Michael Kennedy, UCC, Elkhart Lake
Rev. Eric Kirkegaard, Peace UCC, Kewaskum
Rev. Dean Kirst, Lakeview Lutheran Church, ELCA, Madison
Rev. John Klindt (retired), UCC, Madison
Rev. Kay Krejci, Union Congregational UCC, Green Bay
Karl Kuhn (Associate Professor of Religion at Lakeland College), Kiel
Rev. Kathryn Kuhn, Bethlehem UCC, Kiel
Rev. Lynn Larson, Congregational UCC, Cable
Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist, Racine
Rev. Sue Lindberg, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Waukesha
Rev. Todd Lippert, Plymouth Congregational UCC, Dodgeville
Rev. Suzelle Lynch, Unitarian Universalist Church West, Brookfield
Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Madison
Rev. Scott Marrese-Wheeler, First Presbyterian, Marshfield
Rev. Brad Mather, Bethany UMC, Madison
Martha McCurdy, Moderator, Community of Hope UCC, Madison
Rev. Joy McDonald Colvet, The Corner House: Lutheran Campus Ministry, Milwaukee
Harriet McKinney, American Jewish Committee, Milwaukee
Rev. Charles Mize, Union Congregational UCC, Green Bay
Rev. Kendra A. Mohn, Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa
Rev. Sara Morse, Bethel UCC, Elkhart Lake
Rev. Robert J. Moynihan, Plymouth Congregational (NACCC), Kenosha
Rev. Robert Mutton (Association Minister), Southwest Wisconsin Association UCC
Rev. Lisa Nelson, (on-leave), ELCA, Sun Prairie
Rev. Mary Ann Neevel, Plymouth Church UCC, Milwaukee
Rev. Fran Odden, (retired), ELCA, Milwaukee
Rev. Diane Olson, Kingo Lutheran, Milwaukee
Rev. Dana Lee Ommen, Grace Lutheran Church, Kenosha
Rev. Susan Leih, St. James United Methodist, East Troy
Rev. Robert J. Moynihan, Pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church, Kenosha
Rev. Gail O’Neal (Associate Conference Minister), Wisconsin Conference UCC
Rev. Bishop Don Ott, Bishop (retired), UMC, Pewaukee
Rev. Julie Overman, Lake Edge UCC, Madison
Rev. Thomas Payden, First Congregational UCC, South Milwaukee
Rev. Deborah Payden, First Congregational UCC, South Milwaukee
Rev. Ken Pennings, ABC, Madison, Exec.. Dir. – Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists
Rev. Cheryl Peterson, St. Paul's, Milwaukee
Rev. David Pfaff, St. Marks Episcopal, Milwaukee
Interim Minister Rev. Robin Reed, St. John UCC, Black Creek
Rev. Amy Reumann (Assistant to the Bishop), Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA
Rev. Elena Rigg, Unitarian Church North, Mequon
Rev. David W. Roberts (retired), UCC, Madison
Rev. Rich Rollefson, Village Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Michael Rozumalski, ELCA West Denmark, Luck
Rev. Richard Runge, First Reformed United Church of Christ, Manitowoc
Rev. Margaret Shepherd, First Congregational UCC (interim), Janesville
Rev. Bob Scheuermann, Our Savior's, Milwaukee
Rev. Michael Schuler, First Unitarian Society of Madison
Rev. John Schultz (retired), UCC, Madison
Rev. Nelia Beth Scoville, Pilgrim Christian Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Pat Siegler, Zion Lutheran Church (ELCA), Madison
Pastor Wayne Shannon, McFarland UCC, McFarland
Rev. Diana Shaw (retired), UCC, Madison
Roman Shemayev, Grace Episcopal Church, Madison
Rev. Deborah Sproule, St. Luke's Episcopal, Madison
Fr. George Stamm, Christ & St. Simeon's Episcopal Churches, Chippewa Falls
Rev. Dave Steffenson, Ph.D. (retired) United Methodist
Rev. Amanda M.D. Stein, United Methodist, Madison
Rabbi Andrea Steinberger, UW Hillel, Madison
Rabbi Greg Steinberger, UW Hillel, Madison
Rev. Sue Strickler (retired), UCC, Platteville
Rev. Jan Summers (retired), UCC, Madison
Rev. Jane Terry, Our Saviours UCC, Germantown
Rev. Jennifer Thomas, Lake Park Lutheran, Milwaukee
Rev. Debra Trakel, St. James Episcopal Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Larry E. Treece, Peace United Church of Christ, Schofield
Rev. Robert Ullman, Redeemer UCC, Sussex
Rev. William Utke, Calvary Memorial UCC, Wauwatosa
Rev. Bonnie Van Overbeke, Memorial UCC, Fitchburg
Rev. Bob Voss (retired), ELCA
Rev. Wiebke Waltersdorf, Salem UCC, Verona
Rev. Jamie Washam, Underwood Baptist, Wauwatosa
Rev. Stephen Welch, First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc
Rev. Jody Whelden, Free Congregation of Sauk County-UU
Rev. Holly Whitcomb, Redeemer UCC, Sussex
Rev. Wesley White, Milton United Methodist Church, Milton
Rev. Thomas C. Willadsen, First Presbyterian Church, Oshkosh
Rev. Steve Wohlfeil, Pentecost Lutheran (ELCA), Milwaukee
Rev. Virginia Wolf, Eau Claire Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Eau Claire
Rev. Dr. Charles A. Wolfe, Plymouth UCC, Madison
Rev. Georgette Wonders, Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Susan Gilbert Zencka, Frame Memorial Presbyerian Church, Stevens Point
Rev. James A. Zinzow, The Liberal Catholic Church
Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, Madison

Authorized and Paid for by Fair Wisconsin Committee, Michael Childers, Treasurer.