Wisconsin Gay And Lesbian Couples' Legal Protections Start August 3

Same-sex couples in Wisconsin may begin registering for their legal protections that were granted in the recently passed new state budget on August 3. Estimates are that up to 2,400 couples from Madison will be added to the new domestic partnership registry for Dane County. 

Applications will be taken at courthouses throughout the state in a similar way to the procedure for marriage licenses. Upon being granted the registration, gay and lesbian couples begin receiving dozens of the benefits which are currently only granted to married couples. These benefits include partner's property inheritance, access to partner's medical records, and the ability to use family leave in order to take care of sick or dying partners. 

An opinion was issued in May by the state's Legislative Council saying the domestic partnership registry does not conflict with the constitutional gay marriage ban put in place in 2006.

The governor's office says no legal challenge is expected. However, Julaine Appling from the Wisconsin Family Council continues to feel that the new registry is against the law. She says the registry is Gov. Jim Doyle's way to pay back the marriage ban's opponents for supporting him in his bid for re-election in 2006. Doyle says he he acted out of fairness.

Fair Wisconsin's Katie Belanger says the 2006 amendment campaign just brought more people to be able to view the dilemma the same way, and she explained that it then aided the passing of the registry in the Legislature.