Wisconsin's Crafty and Bitter Bigots

"It's a very sad song" to quote Akiko Wada.

I honestly am surprised that Wisconsin would let it get this far, but apparently an idiot Republican representative from New Berlin (a place that clearly doesn't want to admit it's got bigger problems) has successfully gotten a ballot initiative that will ask voters to ban same-sex marriage come November.

What's even more surprising is that this is done completely out of bigotry and a Machiavellian desire to bring Republicans to the ballot box in the fall (although 6 Democrats voted with Republicans). The fact of the matter is that Wisconsin's law already defines marriage as between two people of opposite gender. So essentially voters are being asked "how much do you hate homosexuals" at the polls. This is state sanctioned discrimination, make no bones about it.

Did any of the people who voted for this not see this?

How on Earth can you possibly put equal treatment up for a vote? As has been demonstrated throughout the ages, this is not something you go with mob opinion on. If that was the case, then the US would still be a land where Native Americans aren't citizens, women would still be denied the vote, and interracial couples (much like same sex couples now) would be running out of their home state in order to get married.

Has Loving Vs. Virginia been completely forgotten?

It was not so long ago that the phrase "activist judges" and its equivalents were used to describe those who wanted equal rights for women and minorities. Any state legislator who voted for this, has already donned a white cloak over the head whether they want to admit it or not.

Likewise, if you vote for this amendment in November, then you are doing the same. You cannot hide behind any justifications beyond that. You just want to tell gays and lesbians to go away, it's plain and simple.

The fact of the matter is that we aren't. We are not going to go off into sunset, thanking you for not whipping us. Wisconsin was the very first state to have a gay rights law in 1982, and now, 24 years later the bigots in the Legislature want to turn that clock back.

I truly believe that the people of Wisconsin are not their legislators. That in their heart of hearts, they know this is wrong. As some have mentioned, the fact is that in this day and age, people of opposite genders who know each other for all of 15 minutes can get married and divorced or have the marriage annulled in no time at all, while a same sex couple who have built lives together, raised children, and been successful members of their community are denied that right for no other reason than that they happen to be homosexual.

When I was growing up, there were two kids in my school who were stepsiblings because their parents, who happened to be neighbours, swapped spouses...just for kicks. Now, Representative Gundrum, how can you say that pairing is legally valid in comparison to two men out in Eau Claire who raise adopted children? And have been doing so for decades, I hasten to add.

How can you say that two women in Milwaukee who work for community outreach do not have a union that is worth protecting?

You'd rather protect the people who get married out of obligation or "just for fun."

I'm sorry, you can't justify that.