MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Massachusetts Supreme Court opinion adds urgency to the push for an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution explicitly banning same-sex marriages, a legislator says.

Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) said Feb. 4 that he will introduce a resolution to amend the state’s constitution defining marriage as being between one man and one woman. Current language defines marriage as being between a husband and wife.

To amend the constitution, the proposal must pass both houses in two consecutive legislative sessions and be approved by voters in a statewide referendum.

The advisory ruling by the Massachusetts high court said Feb. 4 that only full, equal marriage rights for gay couples — rather than civil unions — would be constitutional.

“The right wing and the religious right have been working furiously in this election year to make this the deciding issue of their campaigns,” said Nikki Baumblatt, a spokesperson for Outreach, a Madison organization for gays, lesbians and bisexuals. “Quite frankly, it’s easier than dealing with the economy.”

Chris Ott, executive director for Action Wisconsin, a civil rights group for those who have same-sex relationships and-or sex reassignment surgery, said the opinion was great news for Massachusetts.

“It’s not clear that it means a lot for Wisconsin, unfortunately, but I wish that it did,” he said.

Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager said the Massachusetts court decision has no effect on Wisconsin law.

Ott said he believes couples from Wisconsin are likely to go to Massachusetts to get married, “but we don’t expect them to be recognized.”

About 8,200 same-sex households were identified in Wisconsin on the 2000 Census, he said.

A town hall meeting on same-sex marriage is scheduled Feb. 12 in Madison. Leaders from nationwide activist organizations are expected to attend, Ott said.

Republicans, who control the Wisconsin Legislature, passed a bill last year that would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman, but they were unable to override Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle’s veto of the measure.

“Decisions by the Massachusetts Supreme Court about the law in Massachusetts will not change the law in Wisconsin,” said Dan Leistikow, his press secretary.

Assembly Majority Leader Steven Foti (R-Oconomowoc) said the majority of Wisconsin residents are opposed to allowing same-sex marriage. He said he would schedule the bill as soon as it’s available for consideration, and state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said he will introduce a matching resolution in the Senate.

The earliest the question could appear on ballots would be April 2005, Gundrum said.

Fitzgerald said he was certain that, as Massachusetts marriages come in vogue, wedded same-sex couples will come back to Wisconsin to test the laws there.