This article is part one in a five part series examining
the debate surrounding gay marriage.
The hot-button issue of gay marriage, which has led to a
controversial proposal to ban same-sex unions in Wisconsin, has
come home to the University of Wisconsin campus as groups on both
sides of the debate organize and speak out to make their mark on
the uncertain future of same-sex marriage.
<p>Campus proponents of gay marriage, who are plugging
into the university’s liberal tradition and strong base of support
for homosexual rights, have become a vocal force at the
university.
<p>”Madison’s campus has a pretty good history of
consciously addressing the problem of homophobia in society. A lot
of that speaks to the history of activism and left-wing politics on
campus,” Chris Dols, head of the Civil Marriage Equality Coalition,
said.
<p>The Madison campus, long friendly to a plethora of
gay-rights organizations from the LGBT Campus Center to the Ten
Percent Society, has become especially active in recent days on the
issue of marriage rights for homosexual couples.
<p>The newly formed Civil Marriage Equality Coalition met
at the Humanities building Tuesday night to discuss different ways
to win the right to gay marriage in Madison and across the state.
The group sought to turn a theoretical discussion about civil
rights and marriage equality into a practical brainstorming session
that could lead to an eventual legalization of gay marriage.
<p>The group made plans to stage a march to the state
Capitol April 17 and also debated possibly pushing Dane County
Clerk Joe Parisi, who has publicly acknowledged his support for gay
marriage, to begin issuing marriage certificates to same-sex
couples.
<p>”Actions speak so much louder than words. If you really
believe in gay marriage, Joe, then prove it. Start issuing marriage
licenses,” Dols said.
<p>Despite the fact the group faces tough opposition from
a Republican-controlled state Legislature which recently approved
the initial stage of a Wisconsin constitution gay-marriage ban, the
coalition is confident it can unite with university organizations
and students to push for civil marriage equality in Wisconsin.
<p>”There is a real sense of support on campus,” Dols
said.
<p>Although gay-marriage advocates at the university are
often the most vocal side of the debate over same-sex unions, there
are student groups quietly protesting the idea of homosexual
unions. Many university religious organizations oppose gay marriage
but do not take a formal stance on the issue because of a liberal
campus culture that might perceive such an action as prejudiced and
intolerant.
<p>”I think the LGBT has a very strong voice on campus. I
think that the voice of Christians is not always heard as being
genuine and concerned but rather (is heard) in the condemning way,”
Timothy Borgstrom, an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campus
staff worker, said.
<p>Denell Woller, head of the Catholic Student Union,
agreed that students find it intimidating to speak out against gay
marriage.
<p>”Students who oppose gay marriage don’t speak out as
much because it’s not the cool thing to do. Even if they do, they
are outnumbered,” Woller said.
<p>Borgstrom said the thing most often inhibiting students
opposed to same-sex unions from more actively shaping the marriage
debate on campus is that students are pressured to equate
understanding gay individuals’ struggle with an actual tolerance of
homosexuality.
<p>”Usually we associate openness with acceptance,”
Borgstrom said, adding that although it is important Christians
learn about the “struggle” of being a homosexual, they should “be
able to voice their concern that [homosexuality and gay marriage]
isn’t right.”
<p>
