The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed
to review the legality of a 2006 referendum that placed a gay
marriage ban in the Wisconsin Constitution, reports WKOW, a Madison
ABC affiliate.
At issue is whether the referendum
illegally put forth two issues to voters at the same time. The
referendum asked voters to outlaw gay marriage and civil unions.
William McConkey, a University of
Wisconsin-Oshkosh political science instructor, filed the lawsuit.
His case was dismissed last year by a
Dane County judge, and appealed to the District 4 Court of Appeals.
The appeals court asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review the
case, saying “the validity of the marriage amendment is a matter of
significant public interest with statewide implications.”
A win in the state Supreme Court would
not legalize gay marriage in the state because the state defines
marriage as a heterosexual union. But it would allow gay and lesbian
couples who have been denied a marriage license the right to file a
lawsuit.
A large majority of Wisconsin voters
(60%) approved the gay marriage amendment in 2006.