Judge rules Wisconsin gay domestic partnership law legal, not similar to marriage
Image via Wikipedia A circuit court judge has ruled that Wisconsin ’s domestic partner registry law does not violate a voter-approved constitutional amendment banning same-sex “marriage” or a marriage-like legal status for homosexual couples. “ The state does not recognize domestic partnership in a way that mirrors how the state recognizes marriage,” Dane County Judge Daniel Moeser wrote in a ruling released Monday. The constitutional amendment, which was approved by 59 percent of Wisconsin voters in 2006, states, “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.” Pro- traditional marriage advocates argue that the domestic partnership law passed by a Democrat-controlled legislature in 2009 sets up an institution for homosexuals that parrots marriage. However, the judge disagreed