Proponents and opponents of Wisconsin's defense of marriage amendment say a ruling in New Jersey changes nothing here. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the state's constitution gives gay and lesbian couples all the rights of married heterosexual couples, leaving it to Garden State lawmakers to decide what to call the relationship. “It's unfortunate that it's happened,” says Julaine Appling of Wisconsin's Family Research Institute . “I am convinced it will be the final wake call that we need . . to drive Wisconsin voters to the polls in record numbers.”
A referendum in Wisconsin, if passed by voters, would amend the the state Constitution, to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. But Mike Tate with the group Fair Wisconsin says passage of the amendment will hasten, not prevent, a court challenge in Wisconsin. “If people want to read about courts and judges getting involved, then they would vote for it,” says Tate.
Voters will have their say on the amendment in the statewide referendum on November 7th.