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 Madison
Wisc. Mulls Gay Marriage Protest In
Oaths Of Office
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: January 15, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Madison, Wisconsin) Madison, Wisconsin
could become the first city in the nation to require a statement supporting
same-sex marriage in the oaths of office of city officials.
The state passed a constitutional amendment in
November banning same-sex marriage and civil unions. But the electorate in
Madison voted 2-to-1 against the measure.
Tuesday city council will consider adding a line
to the oaths of office taken by elected and appointed officials in Madison that
states disagreement with the amendment - even though the same oath says they
will uphold both the Wisconsin and the US constitutions.
Using the line disapproving of the amendment
would be a matter of choice
It says that the amendment "besmirches our
constitution" and says the person swearing would fight to overturn it and
work to minimize its impact.
"We're still going to swear to uphold the
constitution," said Brenda Konkel, one of six council members sponsoring
the proposal.
"All it's saying is that we're going to work
to change it, and any discrimination that happens as a result of it isn't
acceptable in Madison."
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said the proposed line is
appropriate because the amendment took away rights instead of adding them for
the first time in history. He also said that it would make gays more comfortable
serving in public life.
Supporters of the amendment called the plan
outrageous and said they may fight it in court.
Meanwhile, State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D) says he
is drafting a proposed amendment that would remove some of the broad language in
the marriage amendment to limit it only to the issue of marriage.
Erpenbach says that his amendment does not repeal
the existing amendment but would open the door for civil unions.
Passage of the amendment came as a shock to
Wisconsin LGBT rights groups. Prior to election day polls showed that there was
a strong chance the measure would be defeated.
©365Gay.com 2007
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