Throughout history, popular prejudice has time and again fueled the inequitable treatment of minority groups. But progressive ideals and public demonstration have also proven that equality and civil rights are granted to those who, with justice on their side, openly demand them.
In a country that has seen so much progress in equality and civil rights, it is shameful that our society and laws continue to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. But this afternoon, on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Capitol we have a chance to change this. The gradual steps of that building will soon bear witness to the first step in the most important civil rights gathering in over a decade. Responding specifically to proposed legislation AB475 and SB233, known collectively as The Defense of Marriage Act, but to opponents as the Anti-Marriage Bill, hundreds of supporters of the Wisconsin LGBT community will participate in a rally against the act that many see as a violation of basic civil rights.
Over the summer the U.S. Supreme Court overturned anti-sodomy laws, which had previously been used to criminalize homosexuality. In response, social conservatives, launched campaigns, at both the state and national level, to block the next logical step in the LGBT civil rights movement: same-sex marriage. In our state this has come in the form of the anti-marriage bill, which, if passed, would strengthen the opposition to same-sex marriage by defining it as exclusively between \one man and one woman.""
We can only hope that LGBT citizens, with the help of the legislature and the majority of the state, will crush this legislation before it segregates marriage in a way worthy of 1960s Mississippi.
In contrast to the African-American struggle for civil rights, the LGBT community has public rights, like equality of work and fair voting practices, but the LGBT communit is restricted when it comes to the most basic of private rights.
A recent Badger Poll suggests that the majority of the state understands this. Sixty percent of Wisconsin's citizens favor granting fundamental civil rights to LGBT partners. Crushing the Anti-Marriage Bill will move same-sex partnerships closer to what the Hawaii Supreme Court is calling the fundamental right of marriage. And Wisconsin's progressive spirit is just one step in line of granting these rights.
Still, the few who proposed the anti-marriage legislation and who mock and scorn civil rights by appealing to religious principle and ignoring the fundamental tenants of tolerance and freedom should note the extent of their betrayal of the American character. The issue of marriage equality is a secular one, and one that parallels every other movement toward civil rights in this nation's history. It is a just cause.
This year has already proven historic in the progress of LGBT rights. It is important at a local level that the UW-Madison community takes the lead in demonstrating itsunity with this movement.
We supported the Day of Silence last April to make known the homophobic fears in our own student body. We applauded the progressiveness of Shadow Day and the university's efforts to bring diversity to campus. For a student body that has historically prided itself in advancing tolerance and civil rights, the rally this afternoon is an opportunity to keep that spirit alive and extend our efforts to the broader community.
Therefore, in a strong show of support, we stand in unabashed solidarity with the cause of all human equality-from the short march up the capital steps later today to the long road still ahead for civil rights.
