Sunday, June 8, 2014

Milwaukee's Annual Pride Day Parade Featured Same-sex Marriage Celebration

PrideFest and parade highlighted celebration of same-sex ruling by federal judge allowing couples to get married in Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 8, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - The Annual three-day PrideFest and Milwaukee's Pride Day Parade coincided with Friday's ruling by  U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb that declared Wisconsin's 2006 Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages as unconstitutional and discriminated against the Gay, Lesbian and transgender community in the state. Judge Crabb's ruling on Friday allowed for same-sex couples to get marry. Milwaukee and Dane Counties extended their courthouse hours on Friday to accommodate couples. On Saturday, the courthouses opened as well.
More than 80 same-sex couples were married in Dane County (Madison) and more than 158 same-sex couples were married in Milwaukee County. 
On Friday, State Attorney J.B. Van Hollen attempted to halt marriages by trying to get an injunction while the state appealed Crabb's decision. But no federal judge would accept Van Hollen's emergency filing for an injunction at the last minute. 
More than 80,000 people filled the parade route this year. Mayor Tom Barrett (D), U.S. Congresswoman Gwendolyn Moore (D) and State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D) participated in the parade.

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