By Shamane Mills, Wisconsin Public Radio

MADISON (WPR) Monday, (8/3) same sex couples in Wisconsin can sign up for a domestic partnership registry. It will extend certain rights to domestic partners or make them easier to obtain: for instance hospital visitation, transfer of property and survivorship benefits.  The registry faces a legal challenge, and state officials say they're ready if the issue ends up before the state Supreme Court. 

Maria Parker and Kelley Richardt are focusing on the legal bond they're now able to create through the domestic registry. The Madison couple is eager for the chance to formalize a relationship that began 11 years ago. In the back of Parker's mind, though, is a lawsuit challenging the existence of the registry.

The state supreme court has not decided whether it will accept the case brought by Wisconsin Family Action.   Juliane Appling its president. Her group contends that the domestic partnerships legally recognized in the registry are akin to marriage and provide benefits that to this point have been reserved for married couples.  She says she believes that it is important that someone step up and defend the state constitution.

In 2006, nearly 60 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman. The constitutional change also prohibited Wisconsin from recognizing relationships "substantially similar".

If necessary, state officials are prepared to defend the registry created through the most recent budget process. Health Secretary Karen Timberlake says they'll cross that bridge when they come to it.  She says they are confident of their ability to prevail in the lawsuit if the high court accepts the case.

Same sex couples can sign up in the county where they live. The fee will be the same as it is for a marriage license, but it will vary according to location.

Some municipalities already have domestic partnership registries. Parker and her partner are on Dane County's list.  But she says the county registry didn’t give the couple any real rights. 

Those who are on Dane County's domestic partnership list or the one in the city of Milwaukee will have to reapply to be on the state list of domestic partners. Parker calls the registry a step in the right direction, even if its not marriage.  She says change happens a little bit at a time.

Wisconsin is the first Midwestern state to extend legal protections for same sex couples, and the first nationwide to start a domestic partnership registry after approving a constitutional ban on same sex marriage and civil unions.

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Information from Wisconsin Public Radio, www.wpr.org

Wisconsin same-sex couples taking step toward equality

MADISON, Wis. (AP) The first same-sex couple in Madison has signed up for the state's new domestic partnership registry.

Fifty-six-year-old Janice Czyscon and her partner, 57-year-old Crystal Hyslop, arrived at the Dane County offices at 5:12 a.m. and waited in the rain until the doors opened. About two dozen more same-sex couples waiting in line cheered and clapped at 8 a.m. as county Clerk Robert Ohlsen (OHL'-son) led them into the office to fill out their application.

Wisconsin is the first Midwestern state to enact protections for same-sex couples through legislation. Gov. Jim Doyle proposed the plan, and the Democratic-controlled Legislature approved it in the state budget.

A group of social conservatives want the law invalidated, saying it conflicts with the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)