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Archived Fair Wisconsin news, press releases, and other updates

2008

March 31, 2008
Late last Friday, the anti-gay group Wisconsin Family Action filed a complaint against Justice Louis Butler, running for retention on the Supreme Court on April 1, 2008. The basis for the complaint is that “Justice Butler took money from two board members of the pro-homosexual, pro-same-sex marriage organization Fair Wisconsin (formerly Action Wisconsin) while the high court is considering a case involving the group.”Read the rest of their complaint.

March 31, 2008
Tomorrow, April 1 is the general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. Recently, we sent each of the candidates a survey asking them questions ranging from why they wanted to be a Supreme Court Justice to if they had gay friends or if they had ever handled legal matters relating to LGBT issues. Unfortunately only one candidate, Justice Louis Butler, responded to our questions. Read Bulter's response to our survey and please take a moment to vote in this extremely important election tomorrow.

March 28, 2008
Glenn Carlson, interim Executive Director of Fair Wisconsin since November, had the word "interim" removed from his title by the boards of directors of Fair Wisconsin and the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund, at their meetings held in Milwaukee on March 15. "Our goal is to end discrimination permanently," Carlson said. "Our group has the strategy, tools and passion to do that through education, political action and hard work." Continue reading about Fair Wisconsin's leadership team.

March 24, 2008
The Fond du Lac Reporter highlights the very important April 1 Supreme Court Race in Wisconsin. The outcome of next week's vote will likely impact a lawsuit seeking health insurance benefits for the gay and lesbian partners of public employees.

Feb 29, 2008
Judy Stock and Leigh Robert, a lesbian couple who plan to wed next week in Canada, filed a grievance with the Sheboygan Area School District over the district's refusal to grant two days of paid leave as they do for non-gay couples.

Feb 19, 2008
In an effort to boost turnout at our April elections, Fair Wisconsin is handing out absentee ballot applications to voters as they head to the polls today. April's Supreme Court race between Justice Louis Butler and challenger Michael Gableman is of particular importance to Wisconsin's LGBT citizens. The outcome could change the balance on the court between liberals and conservatives, and several cases important to Fair Wisconsin will likely make the docket in the next several years including a challenge to the 2006 amendment, and case involving six lesbian couples suing the state for domestic partner benefits.

Feb 14, 2008
Today we launched a new project called The Fairness Gap. Every few weeks we will highlight a different aspect of the current disparity in legal protection in our state for LGBT couples and their families. Check back often for updates, and help spread the word.

Feb 13, 2008
The Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter announced that Judy Stock and Leigh Robert, a lesbian couple from Kiel plan to wed in Canada followed by an April ceremony at a Sheboygan County church. The article, which offers a glimpse into the couples' lives, quotes Roberts, "When one of my co-workers got engaged, an announcement was sent to everyone. But they didn't do that for me. It's discrimination by omission."

Feb 7, 2008
The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided today that a number of municipalities had no right to interfere in a lawsuit brought by lesbian Wisconsin state employees seeking domestic partner health insurance for their partners from their state employers. In the Court's written decision, it appears that the dissenting opinion was predisposed against gay marriage or civil unions, even though that was not the issue at hand.

The six lesbian couples, who have had to go without adequate health insurance for their families while this issue has been litigated, will now have their chance to prove that it is unconstitutional for the state to bar them from receiving the same compensation as their straight colleagues. For more about the lawsuit and the ruling, check out this piece on the Journal Sentinel blog, the ACLU's press release, and the Associated Press article running in papers across the state.

Feb 6, 2008
Oshkosh established a local PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Gays and Lesbians) chapter of the national PFLAG organization. Bill McConkey will serve as the chapter's first president. Earlier this year, McConkey filed a lawsuit against Wisconsin's constitutional amendment banning marriage and civil unions for gay couples. You can visit PFLAG Oshkosh's website for more information.

2007

11-30-07 Fair Wisconsin is pleased to report some good news. A constitutional challenge to last year’s marriage and civil unions ban can proceed, following Wednesday afternoon's decision by Dane County Judge Rick Niess. Read more...

10-24-07 Fair Wisconsin is disappointed that domestic partner benefits for state and UW employees were not included in the budget package passed by the state legislature this week. The failure of our state and University system to offer these benefits puts Wisconsin at a disadvantage in the global economy and marketplace. Fair Wisconsin is now looking to the future and is working with legislative allies on pro-active legislation that works to guarantee equal rights for all families in Wisconsin.

10-11-07 Click here to read Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin's statement on ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act). 

9-19-07 Fair Wisconsin is searching for a new State Field Director.  Click here to learn more.

9-11-07 - Join the GEM Club (Give Every Month) and help add Wisconsin to the equality calendar.  Click here to learn more!.

8-31-07 - Yesterday an Iowa court ruled that is is unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. (more)

4-10-07  - On Monday the La Crosse county board moved to provide domestic partnership benefits, including medical and dental insurance, to some of its employees. (more)

3-26-07 - A number of states' legislatures are moving forward with basic protections for same-sex couples. The Minnesota Senate voted to allow domestic partners of state employees to buy into the state's health insurance programs. An Illinois House Committee approved civil unions legislation last week. And this week, the New Hampshire House appears poised to approve civil unions.

3-21-07 - Last night, the City of Monona became the latest Wisconsin employer to offer domestic partner health insurance benefits. Ald. Doug Wood told today's Capital Times "with such coverage increasingly common in the private sector, it will help the city compete for workers. He also said it sends a message that Monona is 'open and inviting to all people.'" (more)

3-15-07 - We are conducting a search for a development director. Click here to view a PDF of the development director description.

3-14-07 - Yesterday, UW-Madison had a forum about domestic partner benefits. Bob Delaporte, an aide to Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, told The Badger Herald: "When you talk to real people, this is not a real benefit...It doesn't appeal for [sic] working families in Wisconsin." (more)

3-12-07 - The Joint Committee on Finance is the powerful committee that will examine the Governor's proposed budget, including his request to provide fair and equal benefits to all state employees. The Committee will hold six hearings across the state to get citizen input. They will be in Milwaukee, DeForest, Chippewa Falls, Prairie du Chien, Rhinelander, and Green Bay. Please consider attending to show your support for domestic partner benefits. Download time and location details here.

2-21-07 - In yesterday's primary election for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Annette Ziegler and Linda Clifford garnered the most votes of the three candidates and will proceed to the April 3rd general election. (more)

2-16-07 - The Wisconsin State Journal editorial board calls on state lawmakers to approve domestic partner benefits...(more)

2-13-07 - State lawmakers will soon consider Governor Doyle's budget, including his request to provide domestic partner benefits to state employees. Please take a moment today to contact your lawmakers. Our online action center makes it easy--just click here.

2-13-07 - Today Fair Wisconsin released an updated report on Wisconsin employers that offer domestic partner benefits. At least 130 employers in diverse sectors offer the benefits. Click here to view the complete list.

2-10-07 - According to today's Capital Times, Governor Jim Doyle will seek domestic partner benefits for all state employees in his new budget...(more)

1-23-07 - Did you know that 57% of voters in Stevens Point rejected the civil unions and marriage ban last November? Or that 54% of voters in the small, Iowa County town of Barneveld also rejected the ban? New data shows that a majority of voters in 99 communities across Wisconsin voted no...(more)

1-23-07 - In December, we told you about initial plans for the new year, and we recently accomplished one of our first objectives--securing the help of core staff leaders. We're now moving forward on several projects that are all part of the 100 Day Plan...(more)

1-16-07 - Fair Wisconsin is implementing a 100 Day Plan, which includes core leaders of the campaign stepping up to direct the effort...(more)

12-12-07 - 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....(more)