Friday, June 13, 2014

Frivolous Lawsuit Filed Against Milwaukee County Executive Abele And Same-sex Marriages

Bob Braun and Chris Abele

Braun claims that same-sex couples getting married are committing a sin and Abele has allowed it.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 13, 2014

Milwaukee,  WI - On Thursday,  Bob Braun, 79, of West Allis filed a lawsuit against same-sex marriages in his attempt to stop Milwaukee County from issuing marriage licenses to couples. Braun claims the same-sex couples are committing a sin and that in 2006 voters decided to amend the Wisconsin state Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Braun believes the Milwaukee County Clerk's Office has violated his civil rights because a ban was enacted and now marriage licenses are being issued to same-sex couples.
Braun, the plaintiff filed the lawsuit against Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, County Clerk Joe Czarnezki, Deputy County Clerk George Christenson and another County Clerk's office worker for allowing same-sex couples to get married. He didn't want to wait for the federal court of appeals to decide the outcome of same-sex marriages. 
Braun also claims that Abele had paid for overtime to keep the courthouse open, thus bribing County workers. He wants for a Milwaukee County judge to stop the clerk's office from issuing licenses. 
Abele indicated, that both Democrats and Republican County workers volunteered to work on Friday and Saturday to accommodate those couples wanting to get married. Abele posted on his Facebook account, "I'm proud to have marched in Pridefest every year I've been office and I'm proud to have advocated, with SO many others who have done so much more, for a Wisconsin that takes a back seat to no other state in understanding equal protection under the law...That Friday night and Saturday, a whole lot of the great public servants we are privileged to have in Milwaukee County - democrats and republicans - enthusiastically volunteered their time staying late."
Braun's lawsuit won't stop the issuing of licenses for those filing to get married, according to the County Clerk's Office.
Since last Friday, more than 500 same-sex couples have been married in Wisconsin. Only 20 state counties of 70 have not issued licenses to same-sex couples.
Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb struck down the Wisconsin same-sex marriage ban and ruled it was unconstitutional. Judge Crabb will address arguments in the case today.
State Attorney J.B. Van Hollen (R) had attempted to file an emergency injunction to stop same-sex marriages, but failed to get a federal judge to issue an injunction. 
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) says, that voters decided to ban same-sex marriages in the state and amended the state Constitution to define marriage between one man and one woman. Since a majority of Wisconsin voters decided to ban same-sex marriages, Walker believes it's Constitutional. Judge Crabb ruled otherwise and cited the ban was discriminatory. 
Alderman T. Anthony Zielinski from the 14th District in Milwaukee announced that he will be presenting a City Proclamation before the full Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday to Matt Schreck and his partner Jose Fernando Gutierrez who were the first same-sex couple in the State of Wisconsin (beating Madison by six minutes) to get married in state. Both Schreck and Gutierrez reside in Zielinski's aldermanic district.

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