The voters of greater Wisconsin have burst our Madison bubble.
Regardless of how many were aware of the consequences, an overwhelming majority outlawed civil unions and domestic partnership benefits.
The amendment to ban same-sex marriage was never a matter of deciding the definition of marriage as it pertains to any particular religious institution. The issue in question was whether legally unmarried couples—whether homosexual or heterosexual—are eligible for benefits such as health care, visitation rights and legal protection from domestic abuse.
Before Tuesday, extending these rights to unmarried couples was an eventual possibility. The ban's approval precludes this from happening. Barring either a U.S. Supreme Court override—a remote chance—or a referendum to repeal the ban—an even more remote chance with a Republican-controlled Legislature—the amendment is permanently enshrined in our constitution.
While the direct legal ramifications are grim enough, the ban's effect on domestic partnership benefits carries an added downside for UW-Madison. Unable to provide domestic partner benefits because of the Republican Legislature, UW-Madison has been losing skilled staff along with its research and funding to schools that are able to better provide for them. This amendment is a death knell for the university's attempts to stem the exodus of these employees.
Fortunately, the UW System is far from high and dry. Gov. Jim Doyle has been the major bulwark between legislative budget cuts and the UW System in the past and we remain hopeful that he will continue to act as such in the future. His sound fiscal management has also benefited the state as a whole. At the beginning of his term, he was handed a significant budget deficit, which he resolved without crippling important state programs.
Admittedly, Doyle has made ethically questionable decisions in the past, which darkened his re-election campaign and his general reputation.
Still, no one can reasonably deny that the state of Wisconsin is in better shape now than it was four years ago.
