Although the sun was beating down and the temperature was scorching on Sunday July 17, 2005, it did not keep the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community from attending the rally on the capital building’s steps. It is estimated that over 21,000 attended Madison’s Gay Pride Weekend Celebration, and most of this number attended the Gay Rally at the capital building. The steps of the capital were packed, and so was the enormous lawn, with the LGBT community and its supporters. And local TV camera crews were present while the rally took place. Cheering went on when every speaker spoke. The various speakers included Larry Dupuis (lawyer of the ACLU of WI), a lesbian couple (Ingrid Ankerson and Megan Sapnar, who are one of the six lesbian couples suing the state of WI), Attorney General Peggy Lautenschlaser, and openly gay Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin.
Larry Dupuis is one of the several lawyers of the ACLU who is suing the state of WI on behalf of six state lesbian employees and their partners. They are seeking domestic partner health insurance and family leave protections for lesbian and gay state employees. Dupuis’ speech outlined that this lawsuit, filed in April 2005, charges that WI’s current health insurance policy discriminates because only married couples and their families can receive these benefits. Therefore, it violates the state constitution’s equal protection guarantees to both lesbian and gay employees, who are barred from marrying in the state, from access to the same coverage for their families. Dupuis stated the people who are opposing this are saying it will bust the state’s budget and they are using this as a smoke screen; and these people are wrong, because it will only cost 1% for the state.
After Dupuis spoke, one of the lesbian couples suing the state of Wisconsin told their story of discrimination from health benefits. Ingrid Ankerson and Megan Sapnar, lifetime partners, talked about how Ankerson could not receive Sapnar’s state health benefits, even though Sapnar was a University of Wisconsin teacher’s assistant. Ankerson said that this was an issue of fairness, and they were not receiving the same compensation as married couples, even though they had the same commitments and obligations as they do. This couple claimed it was a culture of fear that caused this discrimination. The couple recommended to the LGBT community to get involved with Action Wisconsin, which is an organization that advances and protects the civil rights of the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens and their families.
Attorney General Peggy Lautenschlager asked the LGBT crowd to remember that the gay pride parade was more than just a celebration - it’s a way for them to continue to fight for their human rights. In her words, "Today’s parade is a reminder that in this great nation, people deserve to be treated fairly, no matter who they are."
Lastly, openly gay Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin wrapped up the rally with her eloquent speech. After citing that in 1965, Wisconsin was the first state to have laws prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities, and in 1982, again Wisconsin was the first state prohibiting discrimination on sexual orientation, she gave the LGBT crowd hopes that it could defeat the proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage. She shouted, "This amendment will hurt our families" (it denies critical protections that come with marriage and it bans civil unions).Then she energized the crowd by saying, "We must try everything we can to stop this nonsense right then and there." She encouraged the LGBT community and its supporters to sign the petition against it. She also asked people to go to the Action Wisconsin’s website and read the stories of the lesbian couples suing the state of Wisconsin for health benefits and leave protections, and if possible, for people to volunteer for Action Wisconsin.
If you are interested in knowing more about Action Wisconsin or want to volunteer, their address is 122 State St., Suite 309, Madison, WI 53703. and their email is info@actionwisconsin.org. This organization’s phone number is 866/441-0143.