Impassioned testimony Monday marked a state Senate committee hearing to consider whether a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage in Wisconsin as between \one man and one woman"" should be considered by the full Senate.
The public hearing before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy lasted the better part of the day with opponents and proponents of the amendment entrenched in a seemingly never-ending cycle, with neither side budging.
Religion was a constant thread through the testimonials, with religious leaders themselves beingmany of those speaking, both for and against the amendment.
Speaking in favor of the proposed amendment, Juliane Appling, executive director of the Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, told the committee that marriage is ""the bringing together of the sexes"" and that it is ""not a right, it's a privilege.""
Additionally, Robert Senne, of Butternut, Wis., told the committee, ""if people are born gay, it rises to the level of a birth defect.""
""If marriages are in trouble, I suggest we fix them rather than end them,"" he said.
Appling and Senne's words resonated with many present and fervent declarations of ""amen"" and ""yes"" were heard from the crowd throughout the day.
However, state Sen. G. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, and state Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, both members of the committee, frequently questioned those supporting the amendment on why it is necessary. They cited that current Wisconsin law does not allow for same-sex marriage. Both senators oppose the amendment.
""You talk about protecting marriage. Protecting marriage from what? Britney Spears' 24-hour marriage? I don't understand the expediency. What about infidelity, divorces? Tell me how this [not supporting the constitutional amendment] is a threat to marriage,"" Carpenter said.
Many gay-rights activists chose to boycott the hearing, however. Action Wisconsin, a gay-rights advocacy group, organized a morning press conference and protest and encouraged supporters to stay away from the hearing, contending that members of the committee made up their minds before the hearing began.
""This hearing is farce and we refuse to participate in it,"" Tamara Packard, vice president of Action Wisconsin's board, told more than 200 supporters Monday morning, noting three of the five senators on the committee are co-sponsors of the amendment. ""Our constitution is where we place our highest ideals and prejudice is not one of them. Excluding any group from equal protection under the law is not a legitimate matter of public debate.""
The committee will likely vote on the amendment sometime this week. It must pass the amendment before passing it to the full Senate.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee approved the same amendment Feb. 24. The full Assembly is expected to consider the amendment before the end of the week.
Both houses must approve the amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions and it must pass a referendum to become law. The earliest a referendum could occur is spring 2005.
