Wis. Gays Warned of Big Marriage Penalty
MADISON, Wis., July 3 (UPI)
Gay couples in Wisconsin have been warned that they could face jail time and fines if they marry outside the state.
Under a little-known state law, Wisconsin residents can be prosecuted if they enter a marriage outside the state that would be illegal in Wisconsin, with penalties that include a $1,000 fine and up to nine months in prison. In 2006, voters approved a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
After the California Supreme Court ruled a state ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, Fair Wisconsin, a gay rights group, e-mailed 10,000 of its supporters, the Milwaukee Journal reported. The group warned two couples who said they were considering California weddings of the potential consequences.
“I’d rather be prosecuted than persecuted,” one person responded.
Julaine Appling, executive director of the Wisconsin Family Council, said the state should enforce the law.
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Really? Do people not have anything better to do in their lives than oppress “…executive director of the Wisconsin Family Council, said the state should enforce the law.” Is this woman’s life so empty that she must fill up the void with hatefulness? This just makes me really sad.
It’s legal here in Canada, gay marriage that is, wonder why we in Canada always so ahead of the times?
Hmm Wisconsin’s hateful laws may just be the test caser to take this to the supreme court. I know we are not looking for a lawsuit but what people do in the privacy of their lives as long as no one is harmed and everyone is of free will is not the governments business. I say lets settle this once and for all and take government out of marriage all together since it is a tool that will be used to discriminate. This is one time I say we need to remind ourselves as nation that Marriage should not be defined by government since it is essentially a religious ceremony. I personally think if they want gays to have separate but equal. Then the government should just be in the business of civil unions for all. Couples can then define their respective relationships as they please Marriage or Civil Union. it would seem that Wisconsin has lost respect for its people’s civil rights that they should not be punished because they simply choose to be together be it a man and a woman or man and mand or woman and woman. The Thing one must remember that even Christ sent the disciples out in two’s. I am not tryying to get religious but two men together has been scriptural in a sense that that is what Jesus did now albeit most followed Jewish text and protocol. The fact is Wisconsin is looking to start a fight that may pose some far reaching consequences for the nation by imposing criminal sanctions on people who simply choose to commit to a monogamous relationship that implies family. This for the church has long been an issue since life is most important.I would also add to that that quality of life is also important. Why would any state jail someone for loving another seems rather harsh. I am sure there will be someone from Wisconsin to defy this law and it will lead to a fight all the way to the supreme court. I realize that we have been asked to make love not war but it would seem as battle lines have been drawn as other states might be encouraged to follow this example if someone does not take a stand.
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