Tami Hughes FOX 6 Reporter
September 22, 2009
WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE – Several legal moves are made, in the battle over domestic partnerships in Wisconsin. Those partnerships went into effect last month, but opponents say the language is too similar to gay marriage. They want to go straight to the state supreme court.
Anne Hefter and Denise Cawley have been in a relationship for more than 13 years, they share a home, and a 2-year-old son. As of last month they share some of the same rights as their heterosexual Wisconsin neighbors, but Crawley stresses some. Crawley says, “It doesn’t recognize many of the 1,100 rights a married couple would receive federally as well as about 30 rights for states.”
Wisconsin’s Domestic Partnership Statute basically applies to three major areas hospital visitation, the right to family medical leave to care for their partner, and the ability to make end of life decisions.
Some say it’s too similar to gay marriage, which Wisconsin voters banned back in 2006. The attorney representing Wisconsin Family Action Michael Read says, “What we are challenging is the governor and legislature’s deliberate effort to create a legal statute which is virtually identical to marriage.”
Wisconsin Family Action is appealing the statute which requires couples to file together at their county clerks office, and show proof of birth certificate, social security card, and residence. Read says, “Very, very similar, virtually identical to the procedures for marriage.”
Nearly a thousand Wisconsin couples have applied for the registry since August. Hefter and Cawley say they are grateful for it, but in no way do they feel like a recognized marriage.
Wisconsin Family Action filed it’s motion at the State Supreme Court level. Several groups filed papers to have the appeal go to trial first. The Supreme Court has not announced a decision.
