Fair Wisconsin Head Concedes Defeat, Vows to Continue Fight

Fair Wisconsin head Mike Tate admitted defeat at Monona Terrace, as early returns showed the amendment passing overwhelmingly.

Supporters maintained a positive attitude through the night, despite the news.

"My friends, tonight we came up short in our struggle for equality," Tate said. "While we lost today, we will not lose in the long run. We will achieve equality," he declared.

Said Tate, "We did not lose because Wisconsin does not like gay people. We lost because Wisconsin does not know gay people."

He said he recently spoke to Gov. Jim Doyle who congratulated the amendment opponents on a hard fought race and expressed his pride. "He said Mike, 'We will win this fight; we just lost today,'" Tate said.

"We know when anti gay politicians jump on the bandwagon they end up in the unemployment line," Tate said. "This is why Mark Green is joining Rick Santorum and others in the unemployment line."

-- By Kara Intrieri