Gay rights backers see chance for victory in Wisconsin

[davidinalameda]

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/politics/14535731.htm

In an election year roiled by Iraq, immigration and gas prices, gay marriage may seem like a second-tier issue.

But next month, the U.S. Senate will consider a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. And this fall, voters in at least a half-dozen states will decide ballot proposals against gay marriage.

Wisconsin is not only one of those states but it is emerging as the main event in the nation's ballot battles over same-sex unions. Gay rights supporters have never defeated such a referendum and are convinced Wisconsin is their best shot at ending that cross-country losing streak. Their success - in the ultimate swing state - would give the contest national significance.

"So far, the same-sex marriage proponents are O-for-everything. If they can win one, that's actually big news for them," said Marquette University political scientist Christopher Wolfe, who sits on the board of the Wisconsin Coalition for Traditional Marriage, which backs the gay marriage ban.

[Guy Fawkes]

1. As far as history is concerned...

Wisconsin became, in I believe 1978, to become the first state to pass legislation prohibiting discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation. That said, most of the state seems to have become homophobic and conservative. Only the large cities- Madison and Milwaukee- seem to be Ok.