Fair Wisconsin is a political campaign working to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban civil unions and gay marriage that will be voted on in Wisconsin on November 7th. This is the actual wording of the amendment -
"Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."
It would also have an impact on domestic partnerships (for both gay and straight couples) and domestic violence cases. It is already illegal for gay couples to marry in Wisconsin and this amendment would permanently deny the possibility of gay marriage or civil unions for loving and committed families. Fair Wisconsin has been working against this amendment since it was first proposed in 2004 so they've had much more time to work on defeating it than most other states where amendments like this have been proposed and passed. Wisconsin could be the first state in the US to vote NO on an amendment like this. If it is passed it will be the first time that discrimination is written into the state constitution. Wisconsin was also the first state in the country to include sexual orientation under anti-discrimination laws.
Today I received this e-mail from Pabitra Benjamin who works with Fair Wisconsin. I hope that someone who reads this will make a donation and help Fair Wisconsin increase its support.
"Good day everyone. The next 15 days could determine the outcome of this campaign, and I’m
writing with an urgent request. As the backbone of our campaign, I wanted
you all to hear about a new project: $30 for June 30. Fair Wisconsin will
soon email every supporter to ask them to give $30 before June 30, and to
ask everyone they know to do the same. You have delivered so much already,
but we need you now more than ever before.
On June 30, we must file a fundraising report with the state elections
board. Media and political observers will scrutinize our bank account to
decide whether we have enough to win. They will judge us more by this
filing than anything else until September and their confidence will bring
momentum, endorsements, and contributions we need to win.
If even ten people in every action network give $30, and recruit ten friends
and family members to do the same, we will raise $75,000. This is our goal
and we need to meet it. We cannot do it without you. If you step out of
your comfort zone I know we’ll succeed.
We ask so much of you, and today I’m asking even more. Please help us reach
these goals: HYPERLINK
"
http://www.fairwisconsin.com/donate"w
ww.fairwisconsin.com/donate
New contributions from every part of Wisconsin will prove what we know: you
are the heart and soul of this campaign and fairness is a value in every
single zip code in our state. We know this is asking a lot, so please
contact Liz Fujii (liz.fujii@fairwisconsin.com, 608-4412-0143 x303). She
would love to talk you through this goal and help you do your part to make
this happen.
The next fifteen days may determine victory or defeat and I know we can do this!
Thanks so much for your help at this crucial moment, Pabitra"
Please do anything you can to help, if this amendment is defeated it will send a strong message to the rest of the country that politicians can no longer use LGBTQ people as pawns for achieving their own political goals.
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