Drumbeats, Marriage, Judges and Truth

   When I started working at Wisconsin Family Council in late 1997, the drumbeat for redefining marriage to include persons of the same-sex was just beginning.  It was faint and slow.  Already, however, this organization had, as early as March 1996, worked with state legislators to try to put language in our state statutes to clearly restrict marriage in Wisconsin to what it has always been:  one man and one woman.   
   For five consecutive legislative sessions, marriage protection wording was introduced.  Not until 2003, were we successful in getting the statutory language passed in both the Assembly and the Senate.  Within two days of the Senate approving the bill, Governor Doyle vetoed it in its entirety.  Courageous legislators in the Assembly attempted to override the Governor’s veto and fell one vote short. 
   Just days later in mid-November 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judiciary issued a ruling that declared restricting marriage to one man and one woman violated the state’s constitution.  That ruling provided the impetus for legislators in Wisconsin to introduce in January 2004 language that would provide the very best legal protection possible for marriage in The Badger State -- a joint resolution that would amend our state’s constitution and required a vote by the electorate.
   By early 2006, the resolution had been passed by both ...