Same-sex couples
from Wisconsin who go to California to marry could face
criminal charges when they return home.
A Wisconsin law
makes it a criminal offense to enter into a marriage
outside the state if that marriage were illegal in
Wisconsin.
The law was
passed decades ago to prevent underage couples from crossing
state lines to marry, but it could be used against same-sex
couples, TheCapital Times of Madison reported Wednesday.
The penalty is a
fine of up to $10,000, nine months in prison, or both.
Wisconsin law
limits marriage to opposite-sex couples.
Same-sex marriage
became legal in California following a state supreme
court ruling that went into effect June 17.
While
Massachusetts, the only other state to offer marriage to gay
couples, will marry out-of-state couples only if
their unions would be legal at home,
the California ruling allows for marriage
licenses to be issued to all same-sex couples. (The
Advocate)
