A Lesbian Couple Fights For Marriage Equality In The Wisconsin Supreme Court

A couple in Milwaukee went straight to Wisconsin's Supreme Court last week to file a petition that would annul the state's current ban on same-sex marriage.

Katherine Halopka-Ivery and and her wife Linda were married in California last December. When they tried to get their property legally shared in Wisconsin, they were denied because of the state's ban on gay marriage. Their frustration fueled them to take action.

"It’s not fair for two people who love each other, who’ve been together, to have to go through these extra hoops and jumps just to get the same dignity and rights that any other married couple would get," Halopka-Ivery told HuffPost Live's Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani.

The couple's attorney, Paul Ksicinski, also joined the conversation to discuss why they chose to bypass the lower courts and go straight to the state's Supreme Court.

"The reason why we did that is because it is such a big interest in the public," Ksincinski said. "Because it is a statewide concern, it should be addressed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court."

Despite falling behind in regard to same-sex marriage, Wisconsin has been pioneering in its protection of gay people. In 1982, the state was the first in the country to ban discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people with regards to housing, public accommodation and employment. Additionally, Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin became the nation's first openly gay senator when she was sworn into office in January of last year.

If the petition moves forward and successfully overturns the ban, Wisconsin would become the 18th state, Washington, D.C., not included, to welcome marriage equality.