Fair Wisconsin Set to Continue Struggle for Fairness

Core Leadership from Campaign to Direct Transition

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2007

Fair Wisconsin, the statewide campaign that worked to defeat the civil unions and marriage ban, will continue as a statewide organization committed to promoting fair and equal treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Wisconsinites and their families.

Action Wisconsin, the statewide organization founded in 1994, launched the Fair Wisconsin campaign in 2006. After seeking input from thousands of statewide supporters, the leadership of Action Wisconsin determined that it would retain the Fair Wisconsin name. Despite the loss at the ballot box, Fair Wisconsin built a massive base of volunteers and financial supporters across the state and is widely recognized as having a critical impact on statewide turnout.

Fair Wisconsin is implementing a 100 Day Plan that includes educating Wisconsinites about the impact of discrimination on LGBT people, working to limit potential far-reaching consequences of the constitutional amendment, building a political program to help influence future public policy debates, and continuing Fair Wisconsin's grassroots presence in communities across the state.

Leaders of the campaign have made a commitment to help transition the organization through the end of March. Joshua Freker, the communications director for Fair Wisconsin and Action Wisconsin before that, will serve as interim executive director. Heather Colburn and Mike Tate will work as consultants to develop the organization's fundraising, public education, and political strategies. Colburn was the deputy campaign manager, and Tate was the campaign manager for Fair Wisconsin.

The organization has launched a search for a permanent executive director. The job description can be found online: http://fairwisconsin.com/downloads/EDjob.pdf

- 30 -