Students for a Fair Wisconsin

This November, students have the opportunity to be a leading force in making Wisconsin the first state to defeat a civil unions and marriage ban at the ballot box. Historically Wisconsin's students have been at the forefront of social change and have turned out in record numbers to vote. For example, in the last presidential election, our student turnout was the second highest in the nation.

Polls show young people support equality for LGBT people much more than older generations. After all, younger people are more likely to be familiar with openly gay people and gay couples than their parents or grandparents were at the same age. It's partially why opponents of equality want to ban civil unions and marriage now--they want to make this decision for future generations who are likely to think these amendments are ridiculous and even embarrassing. A strong student voter turnout will make the difference this November.

Students are voting "No" because:

The ban hurts Wisconsin's families
Loving and committed lesbian and gay couples who live in Wisconsin are already denied marriage. The proposed ban would affect young people's future by permanently outlawing both marriage and civil unions for gay families.

A marriage license extends over 1,000 rights, benefits, and responsibilities under federal law and nearly 200 more under Wisconsin law (here are just 100 of them). These include basic things like being able to share health benefits and take bereavement leave in the case of a death in the family. Denying these important legal protections hurts real families who live in every part of the state. If we don't stop this now it will affect us for generations to come.

The ban is far-reaching
The ban goes beyond outlawing marriage for gay couples. It will also ban civil unions and threaten any legal protections unmarried couples have. A majority of Wisconsinites support civil unions, which could offer many of the rights of marriage to gay couples. Currently civil unions are only offered in Vermont and Connecticut.

The ban will hurt higher education
The ban will make it more difficult to attract top-notch researchers and academics. The UW system and UW-Madison is now the only school in the Big Ten that does not offer domestic partner benefits. This has already cost UW talented researchers who bring millions of dollars into our state through their research in fields like nanotechnology. The ban would likely make it impossible for UW to offer domestic partner benefits in the future, and it would tarnish Wisconsin's image.

It is the civil rights battle of this generation
Wisconsin has always been a leader on issues of civil rights.  On campus, students have historically rallied in favor of protecting and expanding rights.  UW students helped Wisconsin become the first state to oppose the fugitive slave laws in the 1850s.  UW students stood with women in the suffrage movement.  UW students fought to make Wisconsin the first state to add sexual orientation into its non-discrimination statutes in 1982. Students have continually fought their own battles to make Wisconsin a better place for all citizens.