Wisconsin holds the honor as the first state to pass a law prohibiting discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation.
Unfortunately, Wisconsin voters shamed this reputation. With the approval of the amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions, our state joined the ranks of other electorates with disturbingly similar propensities for constitutionalized discrimination.
Enter state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, who plans to propose legislation that could partially nullify the amendment and bring Wisconsin back to its progressive roots.
Erpenbachââ?¬â?¢s amendment would essentially void the second half of the approved amendment, which reads, ââ?¬Å?A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.ââ?¬Â