Gay rights groups have urged the
Wisconsin Supreme Court to reject a challenge to the state's
gay-inclusive domestic partnership registry, Wisconsin Radio Network
reported.
The group Wisconsin Family Action (WFA)
and the Christian-based Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) have asked the
state Supreme Court to strike down the law, arguing that it is
prohibited by the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage approved
by voters in 2006. WFA supported the passage of the anti-gay
marriage amendment as the Family Research Institute.
Despite being challenged, the law that
gives gay and lesbian couples access to 43 rights, most of which
center around estate planning and hospital visitation issues, took
effect last month.
In briefs submitted by lawyers on
Tuesday, gay rights groups Lambda Legal and Fair Wisconsin urged the
court to reject the challenge. It takes four justices to agree for
the court to accept a challenge.
“The suggestion in this lawsuit that
this is substantially similar to marriage is, in our view, simply not
credible,” Christopher Clark, senior staff attorney with Lambda
Legal, said.
Statistics compiled by the Department
of Health show that 970 couples have been added to the registry since
its opening.
Governor Jim Doyle created the registry
when he added the legislation to the state's budget approved by
lawmakers. The state is being represented by Madison attorney Lester
Pines, who was hired after Attorney General John Byron “J.B.” Van
Hollen refused to defend the law, calling it unconstitutional.