Democrats in the state Legislature call for LGBTQ+ equality measures
Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers are circulating four draft bills and two joint resolutions to address issues of discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, trans and queer community.
The package was announced just before Pride Month begins on June 1.
'We celebrate the history of the LGBTQ+ movement and the future of our population, and I can't think of a more important time to do that,' said Rep. Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire), at a Capitol press conference Thursday. 'Meanwhile in Washington the Trump administration and Republicans here in Wisconsin are engaging in rhetoric and political activity that seeks to erase LGBTQ+ people and target us … the goal in that rhetoric and in that movement is to make us feel alone.'
Embracing diversity and joining with allies give the community strength, Phelps said.
'Everybody who is not themselves a member of the LGBTQ+ community knows and loves at least one person in the community. And I think when they shut out all the noise and look inside, they know that they want the best for that person or those people,' Phelps said.
In addition to a joint resolution embracing Pride Month, the Equality Agenda legislation includes measures to:
Update various Wisconsin laws pertaining to married couples, including laws on adoption and on in vitro fertilization, to ensure they apply to same-sex couples.
Prohibit 'conversion therapy' aimed at changing a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity and subjecting licensed professionals who practice it to professional discipline.
Bar the use of a 'gay or trans panic' as a defense by persons accused of crimes.
Provide grants for training school counselors and social workers on LGBTQ+ rights.
Also part of the package is a proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution that would repeal the 2006 amendment declaring marriage to be only between one man and one woman.
The amendment preventing the state from legally recognizing same-sex marriages remains on the books although it was overridden by the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage across the country.
'With the 20th anniversary of Wisconsin's constitutional amendment that banned marriage equality coming up next year,' said Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit), chair of the Legislature's LGBTQ+ Caucus. 'It is long past time to give voters the chance to remove that discriminatory language from our constitution.'
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