Gay marriage opponents and supporters rally in Madison today.
The National Organization for Marriage stops in Madison during its 23-city, 19-state bus tour, before it wraps things up with a rally in the nation’s capitol on August 15th. The so-called “Summer for Marriage, One Man – One Woman Tour” covers many key battleground states in the ongoing fight to preserve marriage as that between one man and one woman.
Katie Belanger heads Fair Wisconsin, a gay and lesbian rights group. She says hundreds of gay rights advocates are expected in Madison today to call for the repeal of the state’s constitutional ban on same sex marriage. “Regardless of sexual orientation, everybody should have the ability to receive the legal protections of marriage.” They plan a rally on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and a march to the state Capitol.
A Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage was adopted by Wisconsin voters in November of 2006. Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to throw out that constitutional amendment. The rallies takes place at 11:00 and noon on the capitol square.
John Colbert, WIBA, contributed to this story.