On November 7, 2006, Wisconsin voters approved the following amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution:

"Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.

The amendment prohibits marriage for gay and lesbian couples. It also prohibits civil unions or any "substantially similar" legal status that would grant all of the rights of marriage to gay couples or other unmarried couples. The full scope of the amendment will likely be determined over the course of many years by Wisconsin courts.

The amendment does not invalidate other legal protections, such as domestic partner health benefits. However, in other states that have passed similar amendments, lawsuits have been making their way through state courts challenging public employer domestic partner benefits, child custody issues, and even domestic violence safeguards for unmarried individuals. If you hear of the amendment being used in any kind of legal challenge to benefits or legal protections for unmarried couples--gay or non-gay--please contact Fair Wisconsin.

Who Supported the Amendment?

The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin was the lead organization supporting the constitutional amendment. The chief authors in the legislature were Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin).

Curious about how lawmakers voted on the measure as it moved through the legislature? Wondering where your state senator and representative stood? Find out more about the voting records here.