Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Domestic Partnership Law Despite 2006 Initiative

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling yesterday upholding the constitutionality of that state's domestic partnership law against a challenge that it violated the 2006 statewide initiative that banned marriage equality and any “legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage.”

So, people who oppose same-sex marriage in Wisconsin are also so heartless that they want to oppose domestic partnerships as well. Wisconsin also has a bizarre statute on the books which can subject you to prosecution if you attempt to violate their marriage laws.

Luckily, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that domestic partnerships are distinct from marriage. Remember, we're not talking about civil unions here, which are (or were) another legal entity created on the way from complete non-recognition of same-sex relationships to full marriage equality.

Interestingly, right now Wisconsin is just a federal judge's stay away from having full marriage equality be the law of the land. Until then, same-sex couples at least have access to domestic partnership benefits in the meantime, thanks to the state's highest court.

Hat/tip to Joe.My.God