Wisconsin Gaze

Two steps forward

Written by Louis Weisberg,
Staff writer Aug 12, 2011

State Rep. Sandy Pasch, waves to supporters at the Sheraton Hotel in Brown Deer on the night before she conceded the race. – Photo: Mandie Lousier

Despite rising statewide unemployment and a groundswell of anger about GOP Gov. Scott Walker’s policies toward the middle and working classes, corporate-backed Republican lawmakers narrowly clung to control of the Wisconsin Senate following historic recall elections on Aug. 9.

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Gay foes funnel big cash into recall races

Written by Louis Weisberg,
Staff writer Jul 28, 2011

Julaine Appling, right, who heads the anti-gay group Wisconsin Family Action, and Mike Tate, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, are seen here in a 2006 debate on same-sex marriage. Appling’s group spent about $200,000 on its successful effort to ban gay marriage and civil unions in the state – its signature achievement. But that amount pales in comparison with the more than $300,000 WFA has spent on efforts to retain GOP senators facing recall next month. Tate wants to know where the small extremist group got so much money. – Photo: AP/Morry Gash

An anti-gay extremist group is pouring big money into commercials for GOP senators facing recall elections on Aug. 9.

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Judge upholds registry

Written by Louis Weisberg,
Staff writer Jun 30, 2011

In a strongly worded ruling, a Dane County Circuit Court judge upheld the constitutionality of the state’s domestic partner registry.

The ruling came in a suit filed by the anti-gay group Wisconsin Family Action claiming that the registry law violates a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state. Former Gov. Jim Doyle enacted the measure, which grants 41 legal protections to same-sex couples, including hospital visitation privileges and the right to take family medical leave to care for a sick or injured partner.

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LGBT Outreach’s Harold ‘Harry’ Straetz dies

Jun 16, 2011

Harry Straetz – Photo: Facebook

Harold “Harry” James Straetz, 53, of Madison died on June 8 at HospiceCare Inc., after a three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.

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New director re-energizes LGBT Center

Written by Peggy Schulz,
Contributing writer Aug 12, 2011

LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin board member Mare Wheeler and executive director Jolie McKenna. – Photo: Sabrina Gillis

The LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin opened a little over two years ago, but it’s already engaged in ambitious plans for the future. Members say the positive momentum is due largely to the enthusiastic leadership of Jolie McKenna, the center’s executive director.

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The right’s ‘darling’ follows Koch’s orders

Written by Louis Weisberg,
Staff writer Jul 28, 2011

Graphic: wisparrow.org

No one is expected to benefit from the money of billionaire David Koch and his stealth political organizations more than state Sen. Alberta Darling. One of Koch’s key connections to the Wisconsin Legislature, Darling is fighting challenger Sandy Pasch to retain her seat representing Senate District 8.

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Pocan eyes House seat

Written by Louis Weisberg,
Staff writer Jun 16, 2011

State Rep. Mark Pocan – Photo: Courtesy

Out state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, is eyeing a run for Congress.

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Walker drops registry defense

Written by Louis Weisberg,
Staff writer May 19, 2011

Gov. Scott Walker will not defend the state’s domestic partner registry law against a suit filed by the anti-gay organization Wisconsin Family Action, the governor’s office announced May 13.

The governor filed a motion in court seeking either to withdraw from the case or to amend his administration’s position to say the registry law is unconstitutional.

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Riding for a cause

Aug 12, 2011

More than 100 cyclists participating in Madison’s ACT 9 AIDS Ride, below, rode more 300 miles over southern Wisconsin on Aug. 4-7 to raise funds for AIDS Network. A symbolic check for the amount raised – $212,437– was presented at the ride’s closing ceremony in Madison on Aug. 7, above.

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48 hours in “the Door”

Written by Michael Muckian,
Contributing writer Jul 14, 2011

Peninsula State Park

Door County is the only place in Wisconsin where the sun can be seen rising from and setting into large bodies of water within a span of 20 miles. That’s the width of the 70-mile-long peninsula in the state’s northeastern corner that forms the thumb of Wisconsin’s mitten.

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High school wrestlers charged with harassment

Jun 16, 2011

Four high school wrestlers on Wisconsin’s state championship team face criminal charges for allegedly sexually harassing a team member repeatedly in the locker room.

The mother of a 15-year-old boy notified Wisconsin Rapids police that his Lincoln High School teammates harassed him on five to 10 occasions. According to the criminal complaint filed, the older boys were “dancing around him while they (were) naked, swinging their penises at him.”

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LBGT groups Urge Orbitz to pull ads from anti-gay Fox News

Written by admin May 18, 2011

Media Matters kicked off its Drop Fox acampaign by urging Orbitz, an online travel site, to pull its ads from the anti-LBGT Fox News network. Three high-profile gay rights organizations – GLAAD, Courage Campaign and Equality Matters – signed the letter to Orbitz CEO Barney Harford asking that the company no longer support Fox News through ad revenue.

Media Matters’ multi-issue DropFox campaign aims to hold Fox News accountable for its hate speech, misinformation, and other alarming deviations from the usual standards of a news organization. This campaign includes an online ad component to raise awareness about Orbitz’s financial support for Fox News

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