Fair Wisconsin Year End Update

December 12, 2006

We heard you. Thousands of you took the time to answer our survey about the direction of Fair Wisconsin, and we wanted to share the results with you. Once again, you used your voice to stand up for the values we all share and we thank you.

After the election, we told you about the ways that our get out the vote effort had a significant impact on numerous elections, even if we couldn't ultimately defeat the amendment. It is clear that using LGBT families as political scapegoats backfired because it did not help re-elect the legislators who put this on the ballot. Across the board, political leaders recognize the power of Fair Wisconsin and our supporters.

It's time to capitalize on this power and here's how we plan to do that.

Over 90% of you encouraged us to retain the Fair Wisconsin name, and we plan to do so. We have also created the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund (formerly known as the Action Wisconsin Education Fund). This organization will work to educate citizens on the harms of
discrimination against LGBT citizens.

You also told us that you want to see an aggressive legislative strategy that fights for further rights for all Wisconsin families. Today we are preparing a 100 Day Plan to immediately work toward expanding legal protections for LGBT people and their families. If our opponents insist the amendment makes this impossible, we will remind them that they told voters this was not the intention of the amendment.

In the long term, Fair Wisconsin will work aggressively to remove this mean-spirited amendment from our constitution and achieve full equality for all LGBT people, whether this takes two or fifteen years. We continue to consult with legal experts to consider options
for overturning the amendment through litigation.

You let us know that you would like Fair Wisconsin to continue to participate in public policy debates about LGBT concerns. The Fair Wisconsin Education Fund will serve as an avenue to help us inform progressive minded Wisconsinites about the harms of anti-equality
legislation and lawmakers' voting records.

As we begin working toward the goals you helped us to set, we would like you to join us by making a founding gift to the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund. As a founder, you can know that we will go into 2007 with the resources to make a difference in the lives of all Wisconsinites. As the end of the year approaches and you make your final tax-deductible gifts, please honor your family and those you love with a tax-deductible gift to the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund.

Click here to donate.

The holiday season is fast approaching and we all are spending time with family and loved ones, but we wanted you to know that we are furiously working to ensure that all Wisconsin families are protected. Thank you for everything you've done to advance our shared values this past year. Most of all, thank you for standing with us as we move into 2007 more powerful and hopeful that the New Year brings a more fair Wisconsin.