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What equality means to us
12/13/2011

This is a guest blog post from Fox Valley Fair Wisconsin advocate Kathy Flores.

I am appalled that the National Organization for Marriage is coming to Madison on their "Summer for Marriage" tour. It is an irrational fear for them to believe that my partner Ann and I are a threat to any heterosexual marriage as we live our lives peacefully and lovingly care for each other. We want no "special treatment," only the legal protections that should be available to all committed couples.

Ann and I have had our fair share of medical worries in our years together, but nothing could have prepared us for the last year and a half. In this time, I experienced a pulmonary embolism that would have killed me if not detected, followed by thyroid cancer just months later. On July 6th of this year, I underwent surgery at UW Hospital in Madison to repair a cerebral aneurysm. Ann was in the company of other partners as they all waited for word on the condition of their loved ones. She was told that my surgery would be three or four hours, but instead found herself waiting eight hours to find out that I had come through this well and was in recovery.

I challenge anyone to tell me or Ann that the love and concern she sat with for eight hours is not equal to the love of any heterosexual couple in the same situation. And Ann's work was not done yet. She spent nights with me in the hospital while I was sick and weak from blood thinners. She continued to care for me at home, cooking my meals, cleaning our house and providing support and encouragement as I recovered. In the days since the surgery, my Multiple Sclerosis kicked into overdrive, and I suffered severe vision loss in one of my eyes. Again, my loving partner Ann was there to hold my hand through this.

This is just one small snapshot of our life together. Ann works for a large nonprofit organization, and I work for city government. We contribute to our community in meaningful ways. We pay taxes, attend church, are good neighbors and hard-working citizens being treated unfairly, without equal protections under the law.

I believe Fair Wisconsin is responding as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did when he peacefully spoke against injustice. He reminded us then (and it rings true today): "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." He wrote this from Birmingham Jail at a time when people believed African Americans did not deserve the same legal protections as white people. We face a similar struggle today. There are those within the National Organization for Marriage who would emulate those who opposed Dr. Martin Luther King by denying the most basic protections to their fellow Americans.

The tide is turning. Ultimately, I am confident love will prevail.

- Kathy Flores, Appleton

Thanks, Kathy, for taking the time to share this powerful story with us. We encourage all of our friends and advocates throughout the Badger State to tell us what equality means to you!

We need you, and other fair-minded Wisconsinites to join us on July 27 as we stand together for marriage equality. For more information about the event, click here.

“Fair Wisconsin is disappointed in but respects the Court’s decision. We will continue working to protect Wisconsin’s 15,000 same-sex couples and build towards a legislative repeal of this discriminatory amendment to our state’s constitution,” says Fair Wisconsin Executive Director, Katie Belanger. “This decision highlights the importance of the domestic partnership protections that Fair Wisconsin helped to enact one year ago. Same-sex couples across our state have been availing themselves of the basic protections that domestic partnerships provide, such as hospital visitation, inheritance, and the ability to take leave from work to care for a sick or injured partner.”

“Domestic partnerships are just one step on the long road to equality,” continued Belanger. “Fair Wisconsin will continue working toward the day when all Wisconsin’s citizens will know true equality.”

California's ban on marriage equality has been especially controversial, attracting attention, donations and support (both for and against the measure) from individuals and groups around the country while making several trips through the state's court system.

If Judge Walker overturns the ban, marriage licenses for same-sex couples could begin being issued right away, although it is likely the case will still continue on in the legal system-- possibly traveling all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court-- before a final decision on the measure is made. Judge Walker is expected to make his ruling sometime this summer.

Click here to read a full transcript of the case's closing arguments.

The new policy also allows individuals to obtain a temporary passport in the appropriate gender if a doctor's statement demonstrates that an applicant is in the process of a gender transition. These new policies and procedures are based on the standards and recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

These changes will help to reduce the extreme danger many transgender Americans face while traveling abroad in countries hostile towards them as well as harassment they may face upon leaving or returning to the U.S. These policies are a major step forward towards the State Department's mission to protect all Americans while traveling, working or living overseas.

To read the full text of the proclamation, click here.

While President Obama acknowledged that the memorandum was an important step towards equality, he also renewed his call for the passage of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, championed by Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin. The legislation, currently pending in both Houses of Congress, would extend the full range of benefits currently enjoyed by hetrosexual, married Federal employees to the same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees as well.

Click here to read a full transcript of the case's closing arguments.

To read the full text of the proclamation, click here.

Information for Appleton, Wisconsin

Appleton, WI

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Latitude: 44.265536 -- Longitude: -88.401655

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What equality means to us
12/13/2011

Information for Appleton, Wisconsin

Appleton, WI

Homes - Schools - Census Data - Jobs - Maps

Latitude: 44.265536 -- Longitude: -88.401655

Enter our Photo Sweepstakes and Win $200 for your Appleton photos!

ASKME a Question About Appleton, Wisconsin

Census Data for Appleton, Wisconsin

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Check out what's happening in the NewQuestCity Forums for Wisconsin .

What equality means to us 12/13/2011

What equality means to us
12/13/2011