Letter to the editor

Controversial vote on ballot

There are many reasons that people support the ban on equal marriage and civil unions, as well as oppose the ban.

There are a few reasons stated by supporters of the ban. As Family Research Institute of Wisconsin Chairwoman Julaine K. Appling talks about frequently, children need both a mother and a father. This comes from a woman who not only doesn’t appear to have children of her own, but also lives with another woman. Well, I wonder, does
this mean that we must go after single parent families?

Also, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, same-sex parents can and do great jobs of raising their children, and could do an even better job if the parents were able to enter into a legally binding relationship. Supports of the ban also frequently call it the “Defense of Marriage Act.”

If supporters really want to defend marriage, they should look at what is really threatening marriage -- divorce. Depending on your source, the divorce rate for the United States is around 50 percent. Now that’s a threat to marriage!

Many churches, unions and Wisconsinites oppose the ban. One reason is that the ban changes nothing. On Nov. 8, there won’t be thousands of gay couples going to the courthouse getting married. People of Wisconsin also oppose the ban because it is against the values of Wisconsin people.

On Nov. 7, Wisconsin and its citizens have a chance to be the first state to oppose the ban on equal marriage and civil unions.

Paul Bladl
Alumnus/staff member