Discrimination

The Legislature voted today to place a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban recognition of gay marriage and all civil unions (heterosexual and homosexual) on the November ballot. There is already a law on the books that prohibits gay marriage. Now the Legislature wants to prohibit even straight couples from entering into a civil union. This proposal goes too far!

I am extremely disappointed in our elected officials, including state Representative Carol Owens and state Senator Carol Roessler, for wanting to write discrimination into our state constitution. State Representative Gregg Underheim is to be commended for standing up against this attack on civil rights. He understands that a constitution affords people rights, not take them away.

It's time now for everyone who believes in basic civil rights to stand up and oppose this blatant attempt to write discrimination into law. I'm reminded of the words of Rev. Martin Niemoller:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out.

I hope you will join me in speaking out against this proposed constitutional amendment. To learn more about what you can do to help stop discrimination from being written into our state constitution, visit Action Wisconsin. I also encourage contacting our state representatives to express to them disappointment (Carol and Carol) and appreciation (Gregg). And to supporters of this legislation, I only hope and pray you are never the target of such overtly discriminatory and hateful action.

-Bryan