Democrats began circulating legislation Wednesday seeking support for a bill that would change all gender references in state marriage statutes from \man and wife"" to ""spouse,"" a move that comes in response to the recent push by state Republicans to amend Wisconsin's Constitution to define marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman.
The proposal, co-written by state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, supports marriage benefits for gay and lesbian couples for which they are currently ineligible and has a large base of support in Action Wisconsin, a prominent gay-rights group.
According to Joshua Freker, Action Wisconsin's Public Education director, Wednesday marked a ""historic day,"" when legislation could potentially end marriage discrimination. This excludes non-traditional couples from hundreds of rights and responsibilities, Freker said.
Some of those benefits include mutual health insurance coverage for partners, joint parenting rights, the ability to receive a deceased spouse's pension or inheritance and hospital visitation rights. Under Risser and Pocan's proposal, which has yet to gain much support, gay and lesbian couples could apply for a marriage license and receive the same benefits as straight couples.
""We in fact make marriage possible for two people whether they're of the same sex or the opposite sex,"" Risser said.
The Republican-backed resolution for a constitutional amendment would have to pass in two legislative sessions and then by public referendum; the marriage equality bill would need to pass in two sessions and be signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle. Still, Risser does not expect the bill, not yet introduced as legislation, to pass during this session.
Risser cited a lack of time as well as the clear support for the amendment resolution, signed by 45 Republicans and one Democrat.
""However, we feel that it is appropriate to introduce it at this time because it adds to the discussion on this whole subject,"" he added.
Action Wisconsin, the key lobbyist in this proposal, asked legislators to support marriage equality by educating them and the general public, Freker said. He rejected the notion that a constitutional amendment defining marriage is not ""anti-gay.""
""That's totally ludicrous,"" Freker said. ""The proposed constitutional amendment would make discrimination a part of the state constitution, and that has never happened before.\
