Washington D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin made the below statement regarding the Federal Court Decision on Marriage Equality in Wisconsin.
"Love is love, family is family, and discriminating against anyone's love, against anyone's family, is just plain wrong. Wisconsin can proudly say that discrimination doesn't just violate our values — it violates our Constitution. And now we can proudly say that marriage equality will be the law of the land in Wisconsin.
"This federal court decision reaffirms our founding belief that all Americans are created equal under the law. It's about fairness — about whether gay and lesbian Americans deserve to be treated just like their family members, their friends, and their neighbors. It's about opportunity — about whether every American gets to dream the same dreams, chase the same ambitions, and have the same shot at success. And it's about freedom — the freedom to love, the freedom to commit, the freedom to build a family.
"One year ago this month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions in two historic cases that reflected the progress we have all witnessed across our country. The nation's highest court made a strong statement for equality and freedom, overturning discrimination against gay and lesbian American citizens simply because of who they love. Wisconsin is now the twelfth state to see a marriage ban struck down in federal court since the U.S. Supreme Court decision last June. In Wisconsin, we believe that we owe it to the next generation to give them a Wisconsin that is more equal, not less equal, so I am disappointed that Governor Walker supports defending discrimination in court and standing in the way of freedom, fairness and equality for all Wisconsinites.
"We believe that history only moves in one direction: Forward. It's our state motto and this is a huge step forward for Wisconsin being a place where every family's love and commitment can be recognized and respected under the law."
An online version of this release can be found at the link: www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/us-senator-tammy-baldwin-statement-on-federal-court-decision-on-marriage-equality-in-wisconsin .
Congressman Mark Pocan
REPRESENTING WISCONSIN'S SECOND
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
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Pocan statement on appeal of Wisconsin gay marriage ban
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, today issued the following statement on the decision by Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to appeal Friday's federal court ruling which struck down the state's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional:
"For the first time, LGBT couples received the legal recognition and benefits of marriage from our state. The rights of all LGBT individuals across Wisconsin were upheld by a federal court on Friday and yet today Attorney General Van Hollen is asking a federal appeals court to stop county clerks from issuing marriage licenses. The Attorney General's decision to appeal the ruling that struck down Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage is a regressive and blatantly political attempt to revive a hateful and discriminatory law which violates the ideals of liberty and equality in our Constitution. Society has changed, barriers to equality continue to be broken down; it's too bad our Attorney General is still living in a more hateful day."
