State of Wisconsin Archives: on Civil Rights
Mandela Barnes:
Chaired the legislature's Black and Latino Caucus
Prior to serving as Lt. Governor, Mandela was elected to the State Assembly where he emerged as a champion on issues of the environment, economy, education, racial justice, and health care. He became the chair of the legislature's Black and Latino
Caucus in his first term, became a national leader on gun violence prevention, and was recognized as one of the top pro-growth progressive leaders in the country.
Source: 2021 Wisconsin Senate campaign website MandelaBarnes.com
Jul 23, 2021
Tom Nelson:
Racism short-circuited establishing US labor-based party
He points to "America's struggle with racism and bigotry" as a factor that "short-circuited attempts to establish a labor-based party in the United States.""The racial schism challenged solidarity and undermined class-conscious movements," Nelson
writes. "For much of American history, labor unions deliberately excluded Black workers, denying them equal access to jobs." While there were labor leaders who challenged racism, there were too many who failed to do so.
Source: The Madison Capital Times on 2022 Wisconsin Senate race
Apr 27, 2021
Scott Walker:
Legalizing same-sex marriage was a grave mistake
Q: Support gay marriage?Tony Evers (D): Yes. Believes that "all Wisconsinites should be able to marry who they love--plain & simple."
Scott Walker (R): No. Called Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage a "grave mistake" & talked of constitutional amendment against it.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tammy Baldwin:
Legal gay marriage is victory for fairness & equality
Q: Support gay marriage?Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Supreme Court decision was "a victory for freedom, fairness & equality."
Leah Vukmir (R): No. Defended WI law only recognizing marriages between 1 man & 1 woman.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Bill Lee:
Common sense view of gender: there are two sexes
There are two sexes: female and male. Most education issues are best decided at the local level--not by far away bureaucrats who think they know best. That is why I opposed President Obama's top-down directive for a single bathroom policy that was
divisive and destructive for our schools and our kids. I'll oppose any attempt by the federal government or any interest group to intimidate communities who hold a common sense view of gender, and we'll defend the freedom of our local schools.
Source: 2018 Wisconsin governor campaign website BillLee.org
Jul 2, 2018
Tony Evers:
Fight clandestine discrimination against LGBTQ people
Tony believes that all Wisconsinites should be able to marry who they love -- plain and simple. Even with our recent victories on this front, there are still important LGBTQ protections we need on the books here in
Wisconsin to ensure fairness and equality for all. Our work is not done.
Tony is a strong ally who will continue to fight back against clandestine legislation that discriminates against LGBTQ people. He opposes attempts by the Legislature to outlaw local non-discrimination ordinances
that protect people's basic rights. He also has been a vocal opponent of the so-called "bathroom bills" and other attacks on LGBTQ youth.
Source: 2018 Wisconsin governor campaign website TonyEvers.org
Jul 1, 2018
Phil Anderson:
Supports same-sex marriage
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Comfortable with same-sex marriage"?
A: Support. Who gets married to whom is none of the government's business.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Wisconsin Governor candidate
May 18, 2018
Kelda Helen Roys:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Comfortable with same-sex marriage"?
A: Strongly Support
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Wisconsin Governor candidate
May 5, 2018
Kathleen Vinehout:
Equality requires real change and hard work by everyone
To address the problems surrounding inequality, race, and justice will take a lot of hard work by a lot of people, in every community, and from every walk of life.
We have to change the political, economic and social structures that continue to contribute to our present experience.
Source: 2018 Wisconsin Gubernatorial website KathleenVinehout.org
Feb 22, 2018
Bob Harlow:
Give our LGBT brothers & sisters their rights
Harlow posted on Twitter: "Tell @JudgeBradleyWI that you reject her desire to deny women their rights & her bashing of our LGBT brothers & sisters." OnTheissues note:
Judge Rebecca Bradley had written in 1992 in the Marquette Tribune that AIDS patients had effectively chosen to kill themselves. That and other anti-gay statements were a major issue in Bradley's 2016 judgeship race, which Bradley won.
Source: Twitter posting on 2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial race
Dec 31, 2017
Hillary Clinton:
Fight systemic racism in education & employment
Sen. Bernie SANDERS: We need fundamental police reform. I would hope that we could all agree that we are sick and tired of seeing videos on television of unarmed people, often African-Americans, shot by police officers.CLINTON: We have to restore
policing that will actually protect the communities that police officers are sworn to protect. But, I would also add this. There are other racial discrepancies. Really systemic racism in this state, as in others, education, in employment,
in the kinds of factors that too often lead from a position where young people, particularly young men, are pushed out of school early, are denied employment opportunities. So, when we talk about criminal justice reform,
and ending the era of mass incarceration, we also have to talk about jobs, education, housing, and other ways of helping communities.
Source: 2016 PBS Democratic debate in Wisconsin
Feb 11, 2016
Hillary Clinton:
LGBT people now married on Saturday & fired on Monday
I do not believe we live in a single-issue country. Yes, does Wall Street and big financial interests, along with drug companies, insurance companies, big oil, all of it, have too much influence?
You're right. But if we were to stop that tomorrow, we would still have LGBT people who get married on Saturday and get fired on Monday.
Source: 2016 PBS Democratic debate in Wisconsin
Feb 11, 2016
Hillary Clinton:
Will fight for minorities, immigrants, & women's rights
I want to tackle those barriers that stand in the way of too many. African-Americans who face discrimination in the job market, education, housing, and the criminal justice system.
Hardworking immigrant families living in fear, who should be brought out of the shadows so they and their children can have a better future. Guaranteeing that women's work finally gets the pay, the equal pay that we deserve.
Source: 2016 PBS Democratic debate in Wisconsin
Feb 11, 2016
Hillary Clinton:
Root out systemic racism exposed by social media
Under President Obama we have seen a lot of advances, the Affordable Care Act has helped more African Americans than any other group to get insurance. We have a lot more social media, so, we are seeing the dark side of the remaining systemic racism
that we have to root out. We're going to enforce the law, we're going to change policing practices, we're going to change incarceration practices, but we're also going to emphasize education, jobs, and housing.
Source: 2016 PBS Democratic debate in Wisconsin
Feb 11, 2016
Hillary Clinton:
Unleash the full potential of women and girls
I have spent my entire adult life working toward making sure that women are empowered to make their own choices, even if that choice is not to vote for me. I believe that it's most important that we unleash the full potential of women and girls
in our society. I have a record that does respond to a lot of the needs that women in our country face. So I'm going to keep making that case.
Source: 2016 PBS Democratic debate in Wisconsin
Feb 11, 2016
Hillary Clinton:
After 200 presidential debates, female majority on stage
I would note, just for a historic aside, somebody told me earlier today we've had like 200 presidential primary debates, and this is the first time there have been a majority of women on the stage [the two moderators were Gwen Ifill and
Judy Woodruff, with Bernie Sanders the only male on stage]. So, you know, we'll take our progress wherever we can find it.
Source: 2016 PBS Democratic debate in Wisconsin
Feb 11, 2016
Glenn Grothman:
Marriage is a union of one man and one woman
Q: Marriage is a union of one man and one woman? No government has the authority to alter this definition?
GROTHMAN: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Wisconsin House race
Sep 30, 2014
Scott Walker:
A Better Bottom Line & Project SEARCH: job help for disabled
Project SEARCH is a year-long program for high school students with disabilities. One young woman I met has acute autism. Through Project SEARCH, she found a position sterilizing surgical equipment. This was a way to use her unique abilities to do a job
that few others could do as well as she does. They identified her ability instead of getting hung up on her disability.Tonight, I am pleased to announce the start of a year-long initiative called A Better Bottom Line--it's about employment
opportunities for people with disabilities.
Make no mistake, A Better Bottom Line is not about charity. A Better Bottom Line means helping both the individual and the company do well. We are looking for ways to help employers hire people who will add
value to their organizations.
A few might say these individuals have disabilities, but I want to talk about their unique abilities in the workplace. In 2014, I will highlight employers, who find the unique abilities and hire people with disabilities.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Wisconsin legislature
Jan 22, 2014
Leah Vukmir:
Voted against anti-bullying legislation to protect students
Vukmir has campaigned door-to-door in her district, but has mostly avoided debates, press events & interviews; so this rare debate covered a wide range of issues. One subject that never arose, however, was LGBT rights. Outside the auditorium, the day's
top news story was the federal injunction issued against the military's "don't-ask-don't-tell" ban, the most significant development on the controversial policy since its inception in 1993. But none of the LGBT issues of the day were discussed, despite
their central role in the Bible-wielding Vukmir's candidacy--and despite being a major point of differentiation between her and Sullivan.The race between Sullivan, a pro-equality candidate, and Vukmir, who's so far to the religious right that she
voted against anti-bullying legislation, would seem a natural to draw the interest of LGBT voters in the area. Vukmir consulted with Wisconsin Family Action's anti-gay president about how to vote on the anti-bullying law.
Source: Wisconsin Gazette on 2018 Wisconsin State Senate debate
Oct 20, 2010
Leah Vukmir:
Silent on LGBT issues during debate and surveys
Vukmir has avoided [public discussion of LGBT issues]. In fact, just as she did at the Oct. 12 debate, Vukmir seems to have relegated her social views to the closet for this race, despite publicly insisting that the Fifth Senate District is "very
conservative."Vukmir declined to fill out the Wisconsin Family Council's 2010 election questionnaire, which included an item asking about support for the state's domestic partner registry. Her reticence seemed odd given
Vukmir's cozy behind-the-scenes relationship with Wisconsin Family Action. That group was behind the state's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and is behind the current legal challenge to the state's domestic partner registry.
With polls showing Vukmir and Sullivan statistically tied, LGBT support might yet make the difference in the race, but only if future forums don't enable Vukmir's strategy of silence on social issues.
Source: Wisconsin Gazette on 2018 Wisconsin State Senate debate
Oct 20, 2010
John Schiess:
No affirmative action in college admissions nor state hiring
Q: Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions?A: No.
Q: Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?
A: No.
Q: Should Wisconsin continue affirmative action programs?
A: No.
Source: Wisconsin Congressional 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021