Marriage Equality Comes to Wisconsin - Temporarily

On Friday June 6th, a Federal Judge in Madison, WI struck down the WI constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The ruling came late in the afternoon, but the county clerks in Madison and Milwaukee decided to stay open late and began issuing marriage licenses.  There was a rush at the City County Building in Madison of couples obtaining marriage licenses and promptly getting married on the steps.  Local judges were on hand for those desiring to tie the knot.

I decided to skip the fray of Friday night and went over to the City County Building Saturday where there was a steady stream of couples getting married. I crashed a number of weddings of those who didn't have time to plan for a photographer to capture their brief ceremony. It was a very celebratory and moving experience to be part of.

Unfortunately, the WI Attorney General has decided to appeal the federal judge's ruling putting these newly married couples in legal limbo, though everyone is fairly confident the original ruling will be upheld.  In the meantime, a stay as been put on the issuance of any new marriage licenses for same-sex couples.