Scott Walker's Record on
LGBTQ Issues
Gov. Scott Walker’s Politics in The Area of LGBTQ+ Issues Have Been Careful and Calculating
Gov. Scott Walker’s politics in this area have been careful and calculating. While Walker opposes equality, firing a lawyer defending Wisconsin’s domestic partnership registry and supporting continued appeals of a federal court ruling striking down Wisconsin’s marriage equality ban, he has been careful as governor not to often speak publicly on these issues.
Instead, his standard response had been that because he does not have a role in court decisions, his opinion does not matter. However, as a presidential candidate who needs to shore up support among the Republican base, Walker has been clear that he believes issues of LGBTQ equality, such as marriage equality, should be left to the states to decide on their own.
In a June 2015 interview, Walker affirmed his belief that marriage “is between one man and one woman”, and he indicated that if the Supreme Court upholds marriage equality, the next step would be to pursue a constitutional amendment.
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Gov. Scott Walker’s State Lawyer Secretly Joined Attorney General Brad Schimel, Department of Justice Lawyers at Hate Group ConferenceA top lawyer in Scott Walker’s office joined Attorney General Brad Schimel attending a controversial conference hosted by the Alliance Defending Freedom. [One Wisconsin Now, 05/21/2018]
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Don’t want to pay for ‘Sex Out Loud?’ Walker’s budget offers opt-out on student feesThe governor’s 2017-19 budget proposal would make optional the “allocable segregated fees” portion of the tuition bill at University of Wisconsin System schools. These are the student fees that fund such things as student government, student organizations and even a free bus pass program for UW-Madison students. “At a time when we want to make […] [WatchDog, 03/28/2017]
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Gov. Walker effort to stop state coverage of gender reassignment surgery succeedsThe state on Wednesday halted insurance coverage of gender reassignment surgery for transgender state workers, noting that a federal judge blocked federal rules requiring such coverage. Covering gender reassignment surgery and related benefits would have cost $100,000 to $250,000 a year in a $1.5 billion program that provides health benefits to about 250,000 state and […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 02/02/2017]
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Wisconsin among 11 states suing over Obama administration’s mandate on gender identityWisconsin is joining 10 other states in a federal lawsuit to challenge President Barack Obama’s mandate requiring all public K-12 and postsecondary schools to allow students to use locker rooms and restrooms based on their “gender identity.” Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, backed by Gov. Scott Walker, is leading the state’s entry into the lawsuit, […] [Milwaukee Business Journal, 05/23/2016]
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Rebecca Bradley apologizes for student columns calling AIDS patients ‘degenerates’ and gays ‘queers’A spokeswoman for Gov. Scott Walker, who appointed Bradley to three judgeships in as many years — including as Supreme Court justice last fall — said Monday that “neither the Governor nor our office was aware of the columns.” The spokeswoman did not immediately respond to whether Walker would have appointed Bradley had he known. […] [Wisconsin State Journal, 03/08/2016]
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Gov. Scott Walker wants clearer rules on bathrooms for transgender studentsGov. Scott Walker Thursday came out in favor of clearer rules on which bathrooms can be used by transgender students in public schools. The Republican governor was reacting to a proposal by two GOP lawmakers that would require public schools to designate their restrooms and locker rooms as “male” or “female.” The bill would effectively […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/08/2015]
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Scott Walker Opposes Proposal That Would Allow Gay Boy Scout Leaders“I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support the previous membership policy because it protected children and advanced Scout values.” [Independent Journal Review, 07/14/2015]
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Walker calls for constitutional amendment to allow states to ban same-sex marriageWisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, seizing the moment after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, called Friday for a Constitutional amendment that would allow the states to decide whether gay marriage should be legal. Walker’s call came shortly after the high court ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples could marry across the country, overturning a […] [Politico, 06/26/2015]
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Thousands Sign One Wisconsin Now Petition Demanding Wisconsin Cease Business with IndianaThe people of Wisconsin are sending a clear message: bigotry disguised as ‘religious freedom’ is still bigotry. [One Wisconsin Now, 04/03/2015]
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Walker allowed state to contest & appeal marriage ruling, resulting in state ultimately owing $1.1 million to the ACLU in legal feesThe State of Wisconsin’s unsuccessful court battle to prevent gay marriage will cost taxpayers more than $1 million, under an agreement released Friday. State Attorney General Brad Schimel, a Republican, and attorneys for eight gay and lesbian couples reached the agreement after the couples successfully sued to overturn the state’s 2006 constitutional ban on same-sex […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 03/27/2015]
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#WalkerAt20: Failure to Respect DiversityYou'd think Scott Walker would show at least some commitment to representing the diversity of Wisconsin's 5.5 million residents. But Gov. Walker has shown by his actions that if you're not rich, white and straight, he doesn't have time for you. [One Wisconsin Now, 06/20/2013]
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Despite Walker Efforts, State Supreme Court upheld the domestic partnership registryThe Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the state’s domestic partnership registry Thursday, ensuring same-sex couples will retain certain rights no matter how a federal court rules on the state’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. In a unanimous decision written by Justice N. Patrick Crooks, the court emphasized that proponents of the amendment, including Wisconsin Family Action […] [Capital Times, 03/24/2011]
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Walker left defense of the state law to LGBT advocacy groupAfter his 2010 election Walker fired Pines, leaving defense of the law up to gay rights advocate Fair Wisconsin and other interested parties that had intervened in the case. Pines said Thursday the state paid his firm $75,000 between Oct. 29, 2009, and June 28, 2011, for work on the case. [Capital Times, 03/24/2011]
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Walker fired lawyers defending state domestic partnership registry lawGov. Scott Walker has fired the lawyers defending the state in a challenge to Wisconsin’s domestic partnership law. But the governor’s spokesman said his office “is still working to appoint a new counsel to the case.” Madison attorney Lester Pines informed Dane County Circuit Judge Daniel Moeser in a March 22 letter that his firm, […] [Capital Times, 03/24/2011]
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Right Wing’s “National Marriage Week” Failing MiserablyEarly last week Wisconsin Family Action made a thrilling announcement: Republican Gov. Scott Walker had issued a National Marriage Week proclamation! While many view the week as nothing more than a thinly-veiled attack on same-sex couples and the voices in the LGBT community, the GOP often jumps at the chance to appease their ultra-conservative base […] [Cody Oliphant, 02/08/2011]
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Walker Vetoed County Domestic Partner Benefits StudyA Milwaukee County Board committee on Monday recommended that the full board sustain County Executive Scott Walker’s veto of a measure that would lay the groundwork for granting domestic partner health benefits to county employees. The Personnel Committee voted 5-2 to uphold Walker’s Nov. 16 veto. Walker and other opponents of the domestic partners measure […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/14/2009]
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Scott Walker Still Hates GaysOne might ask Walker to join the 21st century or stop taking benefits on the government teat. Ask him loudly, in fact. Again, Walker if Milwaukee can give your family health care benefits, so should domestic partners have the same right. In fact, Walker, what makes your wife, or your two kids more worthy of […] [Scot Ross, 11/05/2009]
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Walker Says Domestic Partner Benefits Provided by Milwaukee County Too Expensive“I’ve had concerns about (county benefits) in general because of the cost. Quite frankly, I think people are fed up with a number of benefits given at the county level. The last thing we can do is be adding even more to it.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 04/21/2002]
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Walker Voted For Legislation to Prohibit Same Sex MarriageThe bill prohibited same sex marriages from occurring in Wisconsin and prohibited the state from recognizing a same sex marriage performed in another state where it was legal. (Assembly Journal) [1997 AB 104, 05/13/1997]
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