MADISON, Wis. -- Opponents of the Wisconsin marriage amendment said they have made progress despite the passage of the referendum on Tuesday.

TALKBACK: What Do You Think Of The Marriage Amendment?

One day following the passage of a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, opponents gathered to debrief on the election results.

Opponents of the amendment said that while the referendum's passage was devastating, attitudes about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are changing because of the discussion.

"I come from a very Republican family. I'm the only Democrat. And my little sister at first she was like, 'I don't understand this.' But I talked to her. Now, she's at a point where (she says), 'You know what? I don't agree with you, but I'm glad you're able to be who you are,'" said Dani Adams, a Fitchburg resident who opposed the marriage amendment.

With all the precincts reporting, 59 percent voted 'yes' on the amendment and 41 percent voted against it. That breaks down to a difference of about 399,000 votes.

Amendment opponent Janice Czyscon said the amendment was set up by politicians for political gain.

"An element of the Legislature got this going to divide the community for political gain. And so, when you look at those numbers, remember it was set up unfairly. It was written in a confused, very confusing language, so that many of those 'yes' votes were intended to be 'no,'" Czyscon said.

The amendment opponents who attended the Town Hall sponsored by Outreach said that a court challenge on the amendment appears inevitable.

Marriage Amendment Might Lead To Challenges Of Partner Benefits

The favorable vote on an amendment to bar gay marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin is expected to result in legal challenges for the few government agencies that provide them here.

The gay rights group, Action Wisconsin, said the state's two largest cities, Dane County and six school and technical college districts offer domestic partner benefits to their employees.

Both sides agree the courts will now have to sort out benefits already in place for gay couples if social conservative groups challenge them as expected.

Republican Rep. Mark Gundrum, who sponsored the ban, said the amendment only means that state judges can't legalize gay marriage or civil unions. As with those who opposed the ban, Gundrum predicted that any attempt to legally challenge benefits will fail.

Despite the legal uncertainty, Charles Pruitt, a Doyle appointed regent, said his board will likely ask lawmakers to provide the benefits to University of Wisconsin employees.