Greetings,

It’s been a wild 24 hours.  Everyone at Fair Wisconsin is reeling from the defeat in Maine, a state that was poised to continue the important advances in marriage equality we’ve seen around the country.  It’s a tough loss, and one that reminds us of where Wisconsin was just three years ago.

So it’s with a heavy heart that I write to you today about a major victory in the battle for equality right here in Wisconsin.

This morning, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected Wisconsin Family Action and the Alliance Defense Fund’s legal challenge to domestic partnerships.  Read Fair Wisconsin and Lambda Legal’s official statement here:  http://fairwisconsin.blogspot.com/2009/11/wisconsin-supreme-court-rejects-case.html

This wonderful development is a reminder that the fight for equality is not over.

Fair Wisconsin, represented by an amazing legal team at Lambda Legal, is pleased that the court agreed that this is not a matter that warrants a Supreme Court original action.  And we could not be happier that our state’s 15,000 same-sex couples are still able to receive some of the most basic legal protections that ALL caring couples need to take care of each other.

This important step on the road to full equality in Wisconsin remains safe and the 1,200 couples who have already registered can rest assured that their protections remain in tact.  This great work would not have been possible without your support and the support of so many LGBT and allied people in Wisconsin and around the county.

But Wisconsin is not the only state celebrating a victory for fairness today.  Yesterday, voters in Kalamazoo, Michigan added gay and transgender protections to the city’s existing nondiscrimination ordinance by a vote of 62% to 38%.  Congratulations to our friends in Kalamazoo!! 

Today is a new day. 

In fairness,

Katie Belanger

Executive Director