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Written by Rep. Mark Pocan
Jun 3, 2010
Despite a rough national economy that has created difficulties for so many people and families in Wisconsin, one aspect of this past legislative year was cause for optimism.
When the Democrats took over the Assembly last year, one of my goals for being in leadership was mitigating the black eye Wisconsin deservedly got in passing a hateful, anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment in 2006. We did this by making sure all committed couples had basic protections for their relationships.
We were able to get that measure into the budget and begin the fall session focused on creating jobs and healing the economy, knowing that goal had already been met.
This continues to be great news for our LGBT community, because according to Fair Wisconsin’s most recent research, 1,437 couples have registered as domestic partners in Wisconsin since our registry law took effect in August 2009.
We became the first state in the Midwest to legislatively enact any legal protections for same-sex couples, returning to the path of our state’s proud history that began with our groundbreaking sexual orientation non-discrimination on law in 1982. No other state that has a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions has been able to enact a domestic partner classification.
In total, there are now 43 protections that registered domestic partners are afforded.
We can now take time off of work covered by the state Family Medical Leave Act to be by the hospital bed of our partners. Visitation rights are also covered in hospitals, hospices, group or nursing homes and residential care facilities.
There are a number of inheritance and survivor protections that same-sex married couples also have, such as inheriting the estate of a domestic partner who dies without a will, receiving death benefits or victim compensation and the ability to sue for a partner’s wrongful death.
And there are other protections, such as being able to transfer real estate and car titles among partners without a transfer fee.
There are still many battles for equality yet to be waged, and it is important to support the people and groups that are fighting for fairness and equality and a return to our state’s proud history of anti-discrimination. Your hard work and support has made these advances possible against the odds. There is good cause for optimism, and good reason to keep up the high goals and the hard work. And they will fuel future advances as well.
But for now – celebrate and enjoy Pridefest!
