I oppose the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and all civil unions because:

1. It is unnecessary, even if you oppose giving loving, committed gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Wisconsin law already defines marriage as "between a husband and wife." The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that gay marriage is not legal under state statutes. Voting "no" will not change current law. Voting "yes" will enshrine discrimination in our state's constitution.

2. The second sentence of the proposed amendment forecloses any possibility of committed gay and lesbian couples and their families receiving any rights. Most of us have friends, colleagues, neighbors and/or family members who are gay. Do we really want to deny them the right to see a dying loved one in a hospital? To prohibit the extension of health insurance coverage to their partner and children? According to Catholic social teaching, the right to medical care is a fundamental human right.

3. The proposed amendment will deny benefits and protections to all unmarried couples. Ironically, while gay and lesbian couples will gain no rights if the amendment fails, unmarried heterosexual couples will lose rights and protections if it passes. Many elderly widows and widowers in committed relationships choose not to remarry. Wills, medical decision-making and financial powers of attorney for these couples could be legally challenged under this amendment. In Ohio, judges ruled that domestic violence penalties cannot be applied to unmarried men who abuse their female partners under a similar ban.

4. Wisconsin was the first state to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Many businesspeople oppose the proposed ban because they understand that valuing diversity and offering domestic partner benefits help them compete for talent.

5. The recent New Jersey court ruling has no bearing on our decision. Unlike Wisconsin, New Jersey law does not specify gender in its marriage statutes. Washington, Connecticut and New York court rulings have rejected gay marriage challenges. Each state determines its own laws.

6. " . . . Those among us who are gay or lesbian are human beings; worthy of our care and concern; possessing fundamental human rights" (cf. Cathechism of the Catholic Church, #2358). Although the Catholic Church does not support gay marriage, religious congregations that oppose the amendment include the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), United Methodist Conference, the United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, Jewish, Buddhist and Quaker. Make no mistake about it – this is a human rights issue.

Maranto is an associate professor of management.