The state of Wisconsin does not recognize gay marriages, but that's not stopping the country's largest greeting card company.
Hallmark is coming out … with same-sex greeting cards. The company says it is not giving in to political pressure, but Wisconsin Family Council Executive Director Julaine Appling disagrees.
"People who are pushing homosexual lifestyles have great creativity and great resources and they like to keep their topic in the news."
Milwaukee is one of several test markets for the neutral congratulatory messages, which don't specifically mention gay weddings or marriages. Appling admits it's a good marketing plan.
"If they can get card lines or they can get billboards to be put into a community then it ratchets up the level of dialogue about it an it keeps the issue alive in the people's minds."
The new line of cards could be seen as another victory for homosexuals in the effort to make same-sex marriage more mainstream. Appling believes the same-sex greeting card line is an affirmation of another lifestyle that has not yet had major cultural approval.
Hallmark says the cards are being made available in response to consumer demand.