Wisconsin has a law, going back to 1915, that’s meant to keep underage couples from marrying in another state, but its provisions might apply to same-sex marriages contracted in California.
The Madison, Wis., Capital Times reports:
Wisconsin is a state that imposes criminal penalties on residents if they enter a marriage outside the state that would be prohibited in the state. The law was created to prohibit underage couples from crossing state lines to marry, but it could be interpreted to apply to same-sex marriages, according to Glenn Carlson of Fair Wisconsin, an advocacy group for gays and lesbians. In Wisconsin, the penalty is a fine of up to $10,000, nine months in prison, or both.
Of course that’s highly conjectural, and you notice that there’s no quote from any kind of public official indicating that any jurisdiction in Wisconsin thinks prosecuting anybody under this law is worth doing. It should scarcely be worthy of note, but Julaine Appling, executive director of the Wisconsin Family Council enthusiastically advocates this kind of prosecution, claiming, “That’s a defrauding of the government.” (Video here.)
And we wish you all the happiness in the world too, Julaine.
(Via Bilerico and Good as You.)