Protesters, Supporters Voice Opinions On Same-Sex Marriage Ban
Republicans Might Delay Vote Until November 2006
Posted: 9:43 pm CST January 27,2005Updated: 10:09 am CST January 28,2005
MADISON, Wis. -- About 375 opponents of a ban on same-sex marriage took their message to the halls of the state Capitol Thursday.
A group led by Action Wisconsin lobbied lawmakers not to approve a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.Supporters of the ban were also there with a counterprotest.Lawmakers approved the idea last session, but have to sign off again before the decision's put to the voters in a statewide referendum."(The protesters) are saying this amendment goes too far because it bans not just marriage but civil unions and domestic partnerships," said Christopher Ott, executive director of Action Wisconsin. "This (amendment) would hurt real families."Ralph Ovadal, director of Wisconsin Christians United, has a different point of view.
"We feel that the civil union issue is just marriage in drag," Ovadal (pictured right) said. "It's marriage in disguise, and I think they do need to deal with them both, and I'm glad they are." Republicans might delay the vote until the months leading up to the November 2006 election, so the referendum falls at the same time Gov. Jim Doyle runs for re-election.Assembly speaker John Gard said no decision has been made on when to take up the amendment.
A group led by Action Wisconsin lobbied lawmakers not to approve a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.Supporters of the ban were also there with a counterprotest.Lawmakers approved the idea last session, but have to sign off again before the decision's put to the voters in a statewide referendum."(The protesters) are saying this amendment goes too far because it bans not just marriage but civil unions and domestic partnerships," said Christopher Ott, executive director of Action Wisconsin. "This (amendment) would hurt real families."Ralph Ovadal, director of Wisconsin Christians United, has a different point of view."We feel that the civil union issue is just marriage in drag," Ovadal (pictured right) said. "It's marriage in disguise, and I think they do need to deal with them both, and I'm glad they are." Republicans might delay the vote until the months leading up to the November 2006 election, so the referendum falls at the same time Gov. Jim Doyle runs for re-election.Assembly speaker John Gard said no decision has been made on when to take up the amendment.Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
