The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions.

In a 7-0 ruling on Wednesday, June 30, the court ruled that the 2006 constitutional amendment was properly put to voters in a statewide referendum.

A lawsuit brought forth by a voter opposed to the amendment who argued that civil unions and gay marriage are two different subjects was rejected by the court. The lawsuit claimed the amendment violated a rule that limits referendum questions to a single subject.

 

Justice Michael Gableman says both sentences “carry out the same general purpose of preserving the legal status of marriage in Wisconsin as between only one man and one woman.”