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Tech Council leaders say gay marriage ban would harm state's economy
Published October 27, 2006 - BizTimes Daily
The Wisconsin Technology Council contends that a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions would be harmful to Wisconsin's business climate because it would discourage "creative people" from staying in or moving to the state.
Council president Tom Still and chairman Mark Bugher jointly signed an essay Thursday, urging voters to vote "no" in the Nov. 7 referendum. They cited the council's "Vision 2020: A Model Wisconsin Economy," which was published in 2002.
A tenet of Vision 2020 states, “Wisconsin needs to create a climate that encourages creative people who in turn can produce ideas and businesses that create wealth. Wealth can only be created in an atmosphere of diversity and tolerance. These social and cultural values are important if we are to achieve our goals of developing a high-growth economy in the future … The public virtues of openness and diversity are common characteristics of all wealthy societies.”
"The board of directors for the Tech Council is concerned about the likely effects of any state laws, local ordinances or constitutional amendments that could threaten that culture of creativity, diversity and tolerance," Still and Bugher wrote. "As noted in 'Vision 2020,' many studies have demonstrated that economic prosperity is directly related to the presence of diverse, creative people in our communities."
The Wisconsin Technology Council was created in 2001 to serve as the independent, nonprofit science and technology adviser to the governor and the state Legislature. The Technology Council also functions as a catalyst for Wisconsin's high-tech, knowledge-based economy.
The referendum states: "Marriage. Shall section 13 of article XIII of the constitution be created to provide that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state?"
To read the Technology Council's full essay, visit
www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/Newsroom/index.aspx?ID=357.
