Please help us fight AJR 66/statement from Action Wisconsin

Please read this statement from the statewide WI LGBT organization; we can take a stand in April '05 if we start coaliton building now!


"Over the last two days, it's been hard to answer reporters' questions about election results.

It was discouraging to see the rise or return to power of leaders who are open about their hostility to LGBT people.

It was disheartening to see our counterparts in eleven states lose their fights against discriminatory bans on civil unions and marriage.

Even John Kerry seemed not to understand. In his concession, he spoke of "finding the common ground, coming together." But those of us whose lives, friends, and families have been attacked this year and cynically exploited as a political "wedge issue" have no reason to believe that our adversaries will just leave us alone now. They are actively working to deny our country's most basic promises of equality and justice.

I know this week has left many people tired, sad, and kind of stunned. I have been too. But I am writing to tell you that the fight in Wisconsin is still on.

Details of our plans will be in the mail to you next week. We will fight this ban in the new Legislature early next year. We will fight to delay or defeat it at the ballot. And if necessary, we will fight it in the courts.

We can do this with confidence that Wisconsin is different. Our state has a history of pioneering firsts, including our statewide gay civil rights law in 1982, the election of leaders like Tammy Baldwin, and our 2003 victory to uphold Gov. Doyle's veto of the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" -- the only such veto in the country still standing.

And these victories are not just in the past. Another champion of equality, Gwen Moore from Milwaukee, will join Tammy Baldwin in Congress next year. Russ Feingold returns to the U.S. Senate for a third term. And in the Wisconsin Senate, where chances of stopping the ban from going to referendum are best, we will have new allies: Mark Miller of Madison and Lena Taylor of Milwaukee.

After taking some time to rest, think, and regroup after this election, I hope that everyone is optimistic about our chances, angry that civil rights are being put to a vote, and determined to make Wisconsin the state that breaks this week's trend."

Chris Ott
Executive Director
Action Wisconsin


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They will schedule the referendum for November 2006 so they can try to unseat Kohl.

Wee need to do everything we can to keep it form passing!