Same-Sex Marriage: Equality in Commitment

Herb Kohl (D-WI) voted for H.R. 2647, however has never sponsored any legislation directly related to the advancement of rights for the LGBT population. He votes largely along party lines, including on matters of civil rights and earns a 80% from the HRC (HRC, 2009).

Conclusion

Human and civil rights advocacy groups, including LGBT rights groups, continue to educate the public and support the campaigns of fair-minded candidates. Progress has been made, but the fight is far from over. If ever the United States government treats all people the same, the fight will continue to make all Americans treat all people the same. The fight for ‘color-blindness’ and ‘gender-blindness’ has been waged for hundreds of years, and the fight to be recognized and treated as equal people regardless of sexual orientation will no doubt travel the same warpath. If prejudice and discrimination prevail, the United States continues to fail to be a true democracy.

References:

Banville, Lee. (2004). The Battle over Same-Sex Marriage: Vermont’s Civil Unions. PBS.org. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/gay_marriage/vermont.html.

Bidstrup, Scott. “Gay Marriage, The Arguments And The Motives.” Retrieved June 29, 2009 from http://www.bidstrup.com/marriage.htm.

Fair Wisconsin. (n.d.). About Fair Wisconsin. Retrieved October 29, 2009 from http://www.fairwisconsin.com/about/index.html.

Foley, Ryan. (2009). Fair Wisconsin seeks to join court fight over domestic partnership law. Associated Press, The Capital Times. Retrieved October 30, 2009 from http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_403cfe94-a786-11de-8c2a-001cc4c03286.html.

Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD). (n.d.). GLAD challenges DOMA Section 3. Retrieved October 30, 2009 from http://www.glad.org/doma/lawsuit/.

Ginsberg, B., Lowi, T., & Weir, M. (2007). We The People: An introduction to American politics. 6th edition. W.W. Norton & Company, New York.

HRC. (2009). Human Rights Campaign. Your Elected Officials. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/your_elected_officials.asp?state=WI&x=9&y=8&view=myofficials&zip=.

Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Joint Committee on Finance Paper #324. “Domestic Partner Retirement and Group Insurance Benefit (EFT).” May 19, 2009.

Manning, Jason. (2004). The Battle over Same-Sex Marriage: The Defense of Marriage Act. PBS.org. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/gay_marriage/act.html.

Murphy, Jenny. “Should Gay Couples Be Allowed to Marry?” Human Rights Campaign, San Francisco Chronicle, February 3, 2000. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://www.speakout.com/activism/issue_briefs/1138b-1.html.

Robinson, B.A. (2009). Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Same-sex marriage (SSM), civil unions, & domestic partnerships. Retrieved October 30, 2009 from http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr_menu.htm.

Schweber, Howard. “Same Sex Marriage: The Worst Argument in the World.” The Huffington Post, October 20, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-schweber/same-sex-marriage-the-wor_b_136260.html.

Solmonese, Joe., Human Rights Campaign. (2008). What’s Next for Gay Americans?http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/448/gay-rights.html. Retrieved October 29, 2009 from

THOMAS. (n.d.). The Library of Congress searchable database. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d111:FLD003:@1(Rep+baldwin+tammy).

WFC, Wisconsin Family Council. (2007). About WFC. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://wifamilycouncil.org/about.html.

Wisconsin Constitution. (2008). Article XIII, Section 13. Marriage [as created Nov 2006]. Retrieved October 30, 2009 from http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/unannotated_wisconst.pdf.