MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Governor Scott Walker says the government will not coerce Wisconsinites into acting against their religious beliefs.
That’s after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay marriage is now legal in all 50 states.
In a statement, the Republican Walker said he believes the state constitution protects religious rights. But he did not say what that meant — or whether he would introduce a bill along those lines.
Meanwhile, three legislative Democrats asked their colleagues today to co-sponsor a proposal to remove language from the state constitution that refers to one man, one woman marriage.
Senate Democrat Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee, who’s openly gay, announced the constitutional amendment along with Assembly Democrats Mark Spreitzer of Beloit and JoCasta Zamarippa of Milwaukee. They said the language is invalid and unenforceable, and removing it would put Wisconsin “on the right side of history.”
Back in March, a religious freedom law in Indiana caused a nationwide stir, as critics said it would let businesses discriminate against same-sex customers on religious grounds.
Wisconsin GOP legislative leaders said at the time they would not pursue a similar measure — and Walker said at the time he would not expect it to pass.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
