The Madison City Council passed a proposal Tuesday that will allow elected officials taking an oath of office to protest the ban on gay marriage, which became an amendment to the state constitution November 2006 after residents voted on the referendum.
The proposal passed by a vote of 13-4 and enables any official taking an oath to have the option of signing a statement saying they took the oath ""under protest.""
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, is a sponsor of the proposal and said it is meant to give people an opportunity to challenge the ban against gay marriage. He also said the proposal is a ""supplemental statement to the oath, so as to make it crystal clear nothing is being changed.""
Other sponsors include Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, who made a point to oppose the ban in November. George Twigg, spokesperson for the mayor, said the mayor plans to support the action during his campaign for re-election. In addition to supporting it, Twigg said if Cieslewicz is re-elected April 3, he would be taking the oath under protest.
""It's reflective of this community,"" Twigg said. ""It's an appropriate thing.""
According to Verveer, the reason for the proposal stems from calls for change by some members of the Equal Opportunities Commission after the results of November's elections. Verveer said Dan Ross, commissioner of the EOC, is a ""principled person"" and resigned due to the gay marriage ban.
Yet, those opposed, such as Ald. Cindy Thomas, District 20, said tampering with the oath is going to set a dangerous precedent from this point forward at Tuesday's meeting.
She said city officials must take an oath with no bias and any additions to the oath are ultimately a knock on the constitution. Thomas said during the meeting, ""It's just plain contrary to common sense.""
Still, sponsors maintain it is merely a voluntary statement that can be made at the end of the oath and that there are no changes made to the oath.
Verveer said the whole situation is being blown somewhat out of proportion. According to numerous council members, the Associated Press and representatives from the Fox News program ""The O'Reilly Factor"" have contacted them about the addition to the oath.
Thomas said all the attention the proposal is receiving has made Madison become a national ""laughingstock."" Twigg disagreed and emphasized this is not a laughing matter.
""It's a serious issue, it's pretty unique because this is dealing with discrimination,"" he said.
