WAUKESHA—After months of vigorous campaigning, the two main opposing groups in Wisconsin met face-to-face Monday to debate the proposed same-sex marriage ban. This hot-button issue will be voted on in the Nov. 7 election.
Fair Wisconsin campaign director Mike Tate and CEO of the Family Research Institute, Julaine Appling, jointly thanked all parties in attendance before starting their arguments, but found little common ground in the actual debate.
In his opening statement, Tate stressed that the amendment would eliminate the possibility of civil unions and could jeopardize private and public company benefits, domestic partnership benefits and power of attorney decisions.
Appling's opening emphasized preservation of the definition of marriage and suggested proponents should be on the defensive.
""Marriage, a most basic of social institutions, is being threatened. I think if we don't put this amendment in place, people who didn't oppose it will be discriminated against,"" she said.
Community was a constant theme in Tate's responses.
""It comes down to family and children and who we are as Wisconsinites,"" Tate said.
Similarly addressing community, Appling said the amendment is an opportunity for voters to take a stand.
""Wisconsin is vulnerable to a judge telling us what marriage is if the amendment is opposed,"" she said.
On a personal level, Tate said he wanted a thriving economic and social environment for his future family.
""I'm getting married next year, and my fiancAc and I plan to have a family here. I've grown up here.""
While conceding the amendment eliminates any possibility of civil unions, Appling argued the prospect of obtaining domestic benefits is still there.
""Civil unions that look like marriage and walk like marriage wouldn't be implemented in Wisconsin. However, domestic partnerships would not be affected—people will still be able to live the way they want to,"" she said.
Tate countered Appling's argument with an incident from Michigan. After the state enforced a same-sex marriage ban, interest groups filed a lawsuit against Michigan state universities for allowing domestic partners health-care benefits.
""Organizations aligned with Appling want to go after legal benefits and protection,"" he said.
On the topic of adoption, Tate said, ""Organizations say gay people can be just as good of parents as straight people.""
Appling countered, stating it is wrong to ""purposely create motherless and fatherless homes.""
The Family Research Institute is aligned with Focus on Family and other groups advocating the amendment. After Tate called donations from the groups ""dirty money,"" referring to Focus on the Family's recent tax troubles. Appling said she stood by the alliances.
""We are not apologetic at all for associating with these organizations—they stand for what we believe,"" she said.
Wispolitics.com sponsored the debate, the only of its kind scheduled. ""It's a rare opportunity for both sides to have a chance to meet face to face,"" said Wispolitics.com contributor J.R. Ross.
