The American Civil Liberties Union attempted Wednesday to move forward a more than two-year-old lawsuit over domestic partner benefits for state employees.
Arguing before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the ACLU said municipalities should not be allowed to delay the case further by becoming parties to the lawsuit.
The ACLU filed the lawsuit in April 2005 on behalf of six lesbian state employees and their partners. Filed against state agencies, but not the Legislature, the lawsuit claims the state’s prohibition against offering health insurance to the partners of gay employees violates the equal protection clause of the state Constitution.