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Category Archives: Wisconsin

Gov. Walker: Don’t Expect Same-Sex Marriage Anytime Soon in the Badger State

August 5, 2013 – 5:11 pm

When pressed by the media at a recent National Governors Association meeting on the topic of gay marriage, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said a change to the state’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman would not come easily:

"To change anything in the constitution, not just that, it requires two consecutive sessions of the legislature, and ultimately, a vote of the people,” Gov. Walker said. “I just don't see that being an issue that's going to be addressed anytime soon."

Wisconsin’s neighboring state, Minnesota, recently legalized same-sex marriage, but this did not seem a cause of any concern to Gov. Walker. You can read more here.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Marriage, Politics, Same Sex Marriage, Wisconsin | Comments Off

National Organization for Marriage Launches Massive Phone Campaign for Marriage

November 2, 2012 – 10:45 am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)

"Along with advertising and other mobilization efforts we have undertaken, which are unprecedented in their scale, we are confident that Election Day 2012 will mark a triumph for marriage and family in the United States." —Brian Brown, NOM president—

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C.—The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) was founded to advance pro-marriage initiatives across the country through advocacy and grassroots mobilization. Today NOM issued the following statement on campaign 2012:

In the final days before voters go to the ballot box, the National Organization for Marriage and its partners are launching a major push to reach and mobilize 10 million voters with a positive message for marriage. The new campaign, with a budget of $500,000, involves robocalls to households in Maine, Maryland, Washington State, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The calls feature prominent advocates for traditional marriage and family, including Dr. James Dobson, Senator Marco Rubio and former Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Calls will be placed in both English and Spanish, targeting voters across the political spectrum who favor retaining the definition of marriage, which has characterized society for centuries.

Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, described the telephone campaign as "the largest national mobilization of traditional marriage voters in history. Our aim is to reach 10 million voters or more. We are proud to work with state-and national-based partners in the four states that have marriage referenda on the ballot—states where we believe the polls are trending in our favor—and in three presidential swing states, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, that many pundits are surprised to find now in play.

"Even in these tough economic times," Brown said, "people know that the stability of the family is crucial and the need to preserve the institution of marriage has never been greater. These calls from leaders in public life will remind voters to go to the polls, to protect marriage, and to support public officials who will do the same. Along with advertising and other mobilization efforts we have undertaken, which are unprecedented in their scale, we are confident that Election Day 2012 will mark a triumph for marriage and family in the United States."

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected] , or Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected] , at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maine, Marriage Election Watch, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Press Releases, Washington, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Paul Ryan Unreservedly Speaks in Favor of Protecting Marriage

October 4, 2012 – 9:00 am

In an interview with Focus on the Family President Jim Daly, GOP VP candidate Paul Ryan offered this uncompromising defense of marriage:

"[Marriage is] the foundation for society and for family for thousands of years. First of all, Mitt Romney and I — I’ll just say it, it’s worth repeating — we believe marriage is between one man and one woman, that’s number one. Number two, you know where I come from we had one of those amendments in Wisconsin, I was a big supporter of it and we passed it like you say, where it’s put on the ballot it passes. The second point is, President Obama gave up defending the Defense of Marriage Act in the courts, I mean, not only is this decision to abandon this law the wrong decision, it passed in a bipartisan manner, it is very troubling because it undermines not only traditional marriage but it contradicts our system of government. It’s not the president’s job to pick and choose which laws he likes. A Romney administration will protect traditional marriage and the rule of law and we will provide the Defense of Marriage Act the proper defense in the courts that it deserves."

By NOM Staff | Posted in DOMA, Election Watch 2012, Law, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Mitt Romney, Same Sex Marriage, Wisconsin | Comments (6)

Attorney Says School Threatened, Punished WI Boy Who Opposed Gay Adoption

January 27, 2012 – 8:00 am

Todd Starnes at Fox News commentary:

A 15-year-old Wisconsin boy who wrote an op-ed opposing gay adoptions was censored, threatened with suspension and called ignorant by the superintendent of the Shawano School District, according to an attorney representing the child.

Mathew Staver, the founder of the Liberty Counsel, sent a letter to Superintendent Todd Carlson demanding an apology for “Its unconstitutional and irrational censorship and humiliation” of Brandon Wegner.

Wegner, a student at Shawano High School, was asked to write an op-ed for the school newspaper about whether gays should be allowed to adopt. Wegner, who is a Christian, wrote in opposition. Another student wrote in favor of allowing gays to adopt.

... Staver said what the school system did next was absolutely outrageous. He said the 15-year-old was ordered to the superintendent’s office where he was subjected to hours of meetings and was accused of violating the school’s bullying policy.

“The superintendent called him ignorant and said he had the power to suspend him,” Staver said. “He’s using his position to bully this student. This is absolutely the epitome of intolerance.”

Staver said the boy’s parents were never notified.

At one point, Staver said the superintendent gave him a chance to say he regretted writing the column.

“When Mr. Wegner stated that he did not regret writing it, and that he stood behind his beliefs, Superintendent Carlson told him that he ‘had got to be one of the most ignorant kids to try to argue with him about this topic,’” Staver said.

At that point, Staver said the superintendent told the boy that “we have the power to suspend you if we want to.”

The superintendent allegedly told Wegner that he was personally offended by Wegner’s column.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Education, Free Speech, MarriageADA, Wisconsin | Comments (5)

Liberty Counsel on Student's Opinion Column Censored for Promoting Natural Adoption

January 24, 2012 – 10:30 am

The Liberty Counsel:

Shawano, WI – School officials at Shawano High School needlessly censored and apologized for a 15-year-old’s op-ed article supporting natural mother-father adoption. It was a part of an editorial page which presented both viewpoints, each articulated by students. After the school newspaper was published in the local town paper, a homosexual in the community complained to the school. School officials took immediate action and censored the article supporting natural adoption.

In its statement, the school “sincerely apologized” -- not for allowing the topic to begin with, but rather, for the Biblical viewpoint presented by one student. The school claimed that the censored article created a “negative environment.” Liberty Counsel believes that school officials have violated the First Amendment protections of both free expression and religious freedom. It is acceptable for school officials to render entire topics off limits, but once they allow a topic to be addressed, they may not dictate which opinions are allowed and which are not. For the school to apologize for and censor just one side of the argument sends a clear and biased message in favor of the other side. The school has thus sacrificed constitutional freedoms on the altar of political correctness.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Civility, Wisconsin | Comments (9)

School: Opposition to Gay Adoption is “Bullying”

January 20, 2012 – 7:00 am

Todd Starnes at Fox News & Commentary:

A Wisconsin high school is in the middle of a free speech debate after they apologized for publishing a student essay opposing gay families who adopt children. School officials called the essay a form of “bullying and disrespect.”

The column ran on the editorial page of the Shawano High School student newspaper. It was part of an op-ed featuring a student supporting gay families who adopt children and one opposed to the idea.

... The school district profusely apologized after a gay couple – who has a child at the school – complained.

“This is why kids commit suicide,” Nick Uttecht told the Green Bay Press Gazette. “When I saw this I was in shock.”

The school district released a statement apologizing for the story.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Civility, Education, Wisconsin | Comments (14)

Katherine Kersten: Wisconsin, Colorado & Minnesota Have Most Advanced Progressive Infrastructure

August 8, 2011 – 10:00 am

Katherine Kersten, a senior fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, looks at the way progressives carefully organize human and financial resources to push their political goals in states:

... today, a phalanx of left-wing influence groups -- heavily dependent on government union power and money -- is transforming Wisconsin politics. With lavish funding, hardball tactics and national connections, they are ratcheting up statehouse politics to a level of intensity seen before only in high-profile, targeted congressional races.

In the process, these organizations are drowning out authentic grass-roots issues and voices, and are increasingly assuming functions traditionally performed by political parties.

... One Wisconsin Now serves as a 24/7 communications hub for left-wing issues and organizations in Wisconsin. It coordinates messaging and strategy so the state's hundreds of progressive groups are on the same page.

But the network doesn't confine its efforts to election years, the traditional focus of outside influence groups. It uses the same aggressive, campaign-style strategy to pressure public officials on issues on a daily basis.

... We Are Wisconsin acts, in essence, like a parallel political party. It has field operations in every recall district, runs TV and radio ads, and oversees direct mail and phone banks. Kelly Steele, its spokesman, is a longtime national Democratic operative who is widely credited with turning around Sen. Harry Reid's campaign in Nevada in 2010, using tactics that allies have described as "cutthroat."

... In 2008, Rob Stein of the George Soros-funded Democracy Alliance declared that "progressive infrastructure" is most advanced in three states: Wisconsin, Minnesota and Colorado. By 2012, the left plans to have similar operations in 25 states. --Star Tribune

By NOM Staff | Posted in Colorado, Culture, Election Watch 2012, Minnesota, Wisconsin | Comments (7)

WI Governor Issues National Marriage Week Proclamation

January 31, 2011 – 1:54 pm

Governor Scott Walker today issued a proclamation for National Marriage Week which encourages citizens, churches, businesses, organizations and community leaders to strengthen marriage. The Wisconsin Family Council has a press release online (PDF) applauding the governor's act.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Wisconsin | Comments (15)

Wisconsin Bishops Urge Support for Marriage, Life

November 2, 2010 – 9:26 am

On this election day, Bishop David Ricken’s (Green Bay, WI) commentary seems an appropriate way to start the day, as he reinforces the guidance issued by the Wisconsin Bishops, urging Catholics (and others!) to vote pro-life and pro-marriage:

The day for the mid-term elections is fast approaching and we are once again faced with the opportunity to make our country a better place by engaging in the process of choosing leaders for government positions…

“First and foremost (of the four themes) the right to life of every human person — from conception to natural death — is the primary and thus most essential of all human rights. Faith teaches and human reason confirms that human life is not a privilege bestowed on us by others, but rather a right that society must recognize and protect. As Christians we are called to witness to an authentic ‘human ecology’ which safeguards all human life — no matter how frail or impaired — from being manipulated or destroyed.”

Another theme concerns marriage. “The nature of marriage between a man and a woman is established by the Creator as the foundation of the family, which in turn becomes the first and vital cell of society. ... Due to its service to life, including the procreation and necessary formation of new citizens, marriage is a social — not just a sacred — good that government needs to recognize, encourage and protect.”