Monday, July 7, 2008

Well, this is lame as shit.

Wisconsin gay couples who marry in California may face harsh penalty

Those who enter into a marriage that's prohibited or declared void in Wisconsin can be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to nine months in prison.
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It's a concern for same-sex Wisconsin couples who might be considering a wedding in California, where the state Supreme Court recently legalized gay marriage, according to gay rights advocacy group Fair Wisconsin. However, it's unclear whether those couples would be prosecuted.

In 2006, 59% of Wisconsin voters supported a constitutional amendment that reads: "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."

Julaine Appling, chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Family Council, said the statutes are clear and the law should be enforced.

David Buckel, marriage project director for Lambda Legal, says other states have similar laws, but Wisconsin imposes the stiffest penalties. The national group advocates for civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

"We put the information out there because we're deeply worried about same-sex couples in Wisconsin who may not know about this," Buckel said.

Decisions about whether to prosecute are left to district attorneys.

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