UW-Madison students and equal rights supporters from the Madison community will come together on campus tonight to organize a gay-marriage coalition aimed at winning full marriage equality for homosexuals.
The Queer Student Alliance and International Socialist Organization previously co-hosted a meeting to address the issue of improving gay rights in Wisconsin and, after rallying local support, expect approximately 100 attendees at tonight's event.
\The meetings are to get a plan of action and for mobilization. ... The majority of Americans think of marriage as a right that doesn't pertain to them, but it applies to everyone because it is a basic civil right that is being denied,"" said UW-Madison sophomore Laura Warncke, who attended the first coalition meeting.
The gay marriage coalition's agenda for tonight's meeting includes defining goals and implementation methods, and exploring fundraising opportunities and advertising possibilities. Attendees will discuss spreading the message and gaining statewide support through both organizations and the community.
""Now is the time to do something. With Massachusetts legalizing gay marriage and San Francisco [trying to issue] marriage licenses we need to use this momentum to gain equal rights,"" said UW-Madison junior Christopher Dols, who helped start the coalition.
In the Madison area, groups such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Center, Action Wisconsin, Ten Percent Society, queer drama groups, area churches and individual supporters are invited to show their support.
The coalition is being formed in reaction to recent legislation pushed through the state government that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. The bill must pass through the state Assembly and Senate once more before it will be formed into a referendum for the people of Wisconsin to vote on.
A co-writer of the bill, Senator David Zien, expected resistance to bill, but his Chief of Staff Bob Seitz said Zien believes the majority of Wisconsin's citizens will support it. A recent poll stated 60 percent of Wisconsin residents are against same-sex marriage.
""I think the numbers are actually stronger than that. I think it's probably better than 70 percent. ... The vast majority of the people think that marriage is between one man and one woman,"" Seitz said.
The coalition will meet tonight at 7 p.m. in 1641 Humanities.
