11/02/06 Amendment Banning Gay Marriage, Civil Unions Strips Citizens Of Rights

Amendment Banning Gay Marriage, Civil Unions Strips Citizens Of Rights

The Capital Times

Thursday, November 2, 2006

Linda Ketcham Madison

 Dear Editor: Eight years ago my partner and I were joined in holy union by our minister in our church. While the government may not recognize this union as a legal marriage, it is nonetheless a marriage in our eyes and the eyes of our church, our family and our friends.

The proposed ban on marriage and civil unions will write discrimination into our state constitution. The ban will strip citizens of current rights in terms of domestic partnerships. The ban threatens my health insurance coverage (I am insured through my partner's health plan) and the ban could be used to help deny my daughter pension benefits should I die. I have paid into my pension, but because the state and federal government will not recognize our family as such, my daughter is denied access to those benefits.

In the same way, the ban on civil unions/domestic partnerships also threatens heterosexual couples who have made long-term commitments to each other but have chosen not to marry.

My parents have assured me that our union has not threatened their marriage of 54 years. I have inquired -- no friends or family have divorced because of our union. No one has sought counseling, not even had an argument related to our union.

Marriage is both a legal and a religious institution. If a particular faith tradition does not want to recognize or perform same-sex marriage, they should have that right. However, my church and many denominations do perform union ceremonies and would consider performing marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. Denying churches the right to perform marriages for members infringes on religious freedom.

Please vote for fairness and for freedom of religion. Please vote "no" on the proposed constitutional amendment.