6-26-13 gay marriage-wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gay rights advocates say a pair of U.S. Supreme Court rulings supporting same-sex marriage will have little effect in Wisconsin.  The court on Wednesday ruled that legally married gay Americans are eligible for federal tax, health and pension benefits. The court also decided to leave stand a lower court ruling that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. The court didn't address the merits of the ban.  Wisconsin has a similar constitutional ban on gay marriage.  Chris Ahmuty is executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Wisconsin chapter. He says the same-sex couples here likely won't be eligible for the federal benefits because the state doesn't recognize gay marriage. He says the California decision clears the way for gay marriage in that state but has no impact on Wisconsin.