Erpenbach Introduces Equal Rights Amendment

Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 2 by which the Wisconsin Constitution would be amended as follows:

[Article I] Section 1. All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; to secure these rights, governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. All persons are guaranteed equal protection of the laws and no law shall discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, age, or ancestry. The government shall protect and secure these equal rights of the governed.

(via The Wheeler Report)

Jason Stein reported in the Wisconsin State Journal

The Middleton Democrat has said he believes the measure wouldn't affect the prohibition on gay marriage but would invalidate the second part of the ban, which forbids civil unions for gays and lesbians, and possibly others. Erpenbach said his proposal would roll back that second part, which he believes has less support from voters than the gay marriage ban. ...

"I think the whole idea would be to get it into court," Erpenbach said. "It would certainly open the door to legislation allowing civil unions which is something we can't do now."

(via WisPolitics)