Wisconsin high court upholds state’s marriage ban

The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Wednesday to uphold the state’s consitutional ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions against a legal challenge.

Justices determined in a 7-0 decision that the ban was consistent with state constitutional standards in 2006 when it was put to voters for a referendum.

In the case of McConkey v. J.B. Van Hollen, plaintiffs argued the initiative violated a state rule limiting referendum questions to a single subject and contended same-sex marriage and civil unions were different issues.

But Justice Michael Gableman wrotes in the decision that both portions of the ban “carry out the same general purpose of preserving the legal status of marriage in Wisconsin as between only one man and one woman,” according to the Associated Press.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the only out lesbian in Congress, said in a statement she was “disappointed” with the ruling.

“Regrettably, Wisconsinites, including many LGBT families, must live with a state constitution that enshrines discrimination,” she said. “While the effect of this ruling is a setback in our effort to repeal the discriminatory constitutional amendment banning marriage equality and civil unions, we will continue our quest for equality.”