By M.L. Johnson
Associated Press
MILWAUKEE - Garth Wangemann dreamed of marrying his partner, Roy Badger, on their 30th anniversary together - a faint hope as the two waited to see whether the U.S. Supreme Court would legalize same-sex marriage. On Monday, the court granted Wangemann's wish, rejecting appeals from Wisconsin and four other states seeking to prohibit gay marriage.
"I'm online right now, looking at invitations," Wangemann said about an hour after the court's announcement.
Wangemann, Badger and seven other couples sued in January to overturn Wisconsin's ban on gay marriage. More than 500 couples married in June before a federal judge's decision declaring the ban unconstitutional was put on hold, but none of the plaintiffs did. They were determined to wait until the matter was settled. On Monday, they celebrated a victory few had expected so fast.
"We're happy with the result because that means we won," said Katy Heyning of Madison. "I'm glad it is settled in Wisconsin. I wish it was settled across the United States."
Heyning proposed to her partner, Judi Trampf, soon after learning of the court's decision. They wore engagement rings to a news conference and said they had already spoken with a wedding planner and started looking for a venue.
Other couples involved in the lawsuit said they would likely marry sometime next year. Two of the couples, who previously married elsewhere, said they were pleased their marriages would now be recognized in Wisconsin.
Karina Willes of West Milwaukee said her biggest joy was that she could now be listed on her daughter's birth certificate. Currently, her partner, Kami Young, is the only parent named.
County clerks in Milwaukee and Madison, where most same-sex marriages took place in June, quickly said they would resume accepting license applications from gay couples. By afternoon, only a few couples had applied.
"I think the pent-up demand has been satisfied," Dane County Clerk Scott McDonnell said. "There's probably planning going on in living rooms around the county now. Next summer, we'll have a bunch of same-sex couples in here."
The Racine County clerk's office, which had not previously accepted applications from same-couples, said Monday that it would. Other holdouts were expected to follow suit after Gov. Scott Walker declared the fight against gay marriage at an end.
"For us, it's over in Wisconsin. ... The federal courts have ruled that this decision by this court of appeals decision is the law of the land and we will be upholding it," Walker said.
Larry DuPuis, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, said he expected the state to recognize those ceremonies performed in June as well as any that take place now.
Wangemann, who lives in Milwaukee, said he and Badger were pulling together documents needed for a license and looking into the cost of marrying at their church. He said he had checked the calendar Sunday night on a whim to see what day their anniversary fell on before he turned off his computer and went to bed.
"I don't know why it came into my mind, but it just did," he said. "There must have been something in the air already."
Associated Press
MILWAUKEE - Garth Wangemann dreamed of marrying his partner, Roy Badger, on their 30th anniversary together - a faint hope as the two waited to see whether the U.S. Supreme Court would legalize same-sex marriage. On Monday, the court granted Wangemann's wish, rejecting appeals from Wisconsin and four other states seeking to prohibit gay marriage.
"I'm online right now, looking at invitations," Wangemann said about an hour after the court's announcement.
Wangemann, Badger and seven other couples sued in January to overturn Wisconsin's ban on gay marriage. More than 500 couples married in June before a federal judge's decision declaring the ban unconstitutional was put on hold, but none of the plaintiffs did. They were determined to wait until the matter was settled. On Monday, they celebrated a victory few had expected so fast.
"We're happy with the result because that means we won," said Katy Heyning of Madison. "I'm glad it is settled in Wisconsin. I wish it was settled across the United States."
Heyning proposed to her partner, Judi Trampf, soon after learning of the court's decision. They wore engagement rings to a news conference and said they had already spoken with a wedding planner and started looking for a venue.
Other couples involved in the lawsuit said they would likely marry sometime next year. Two of the couples, who previously married elsewhere, said they were pleased their marriages would now be recognized in Wisconsin.
Karina Willes of West Milwaukee said her biggest joy was that she could now be listed on her daughter's birth certificate. Currently, her partner, Kami Young, is the only parent named.
County clerks in Milwaukee and Madison, where most same-sex marriages took place in June, quickly said they would resume accepting license applications from gay couples. By afternoon, only a few couples had applied.
"I think the pent-up demand has been satisfied," Dane County Clerk Scott McDonnell said. "There's probably planning going on in living rooms around the county now. Next summer, we'll have a bunch of same-sex couples in here."
The Racine County clerk's office, which had not previously accepted applications from same-couples, said Monday that it would. Other holdouts were expected to follow suit after Gov. Scott Walker declared the fight against gay marriage at an end.
"For us, it's over in Wisconsin. ... The federal courts have ruled that this decision by this court of appeals decision is the law of the land and we will be upholding it," Walker said.
Larry DuPuis, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, said he expected the state to recognize those ceremonies performed in June as well as any that take place now.
Wangemann, who lives in Milwaukee, said he and Badger were pulling together documents needed for a license and looking into the cost of marrying at their church. He said he had checked the calendar Sunday night on a whim to see what day their anniversary fell on before he turned off his computer and went to bed.
"I don't know why it came into my mind, but it just did," he said. "There must have been something in the air already."