One Wisconsin Now
Press Release

Brian Hagedorn Promises He Won’t Do It Again, Again

Founder and Board Member of Organization With Formal Policy of LGBTQ Discrimination Asks Voters to Trust He Will Treat All Equally Before the Law

By - Feb 15th, 2019 10:57 am
Brian Hagedorn. Photo courtesy of the Friends of Brian Hagedorn.

Brian Hagedorn. Photo courtesy of the Friends of Brian Hagedorn.

MADISON, Wis. — In response to new revelations he helped found and operate an organization that explicitly discriminates against members of the LGBTQ community, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brain Hagedorn is again asking voters to trust he will treat everyone equally on the bench. One Wisconsin Now Research Director Joanna Beilman-Dulin noted that was the same response from from Hagedorn in reaction to media reports on outrageous homophobic writings that he posted on a weblog he maintained.

“Once again Brian Hagedorn is standing by his extreme, discriminatory views and asking voters to trust he would set them aside to treat everyone equally before the law,” said One Wisconsin Now Research Director Joanna Beilman-Dulin. “Once again his actions show he cannot be trusted.”

Numerous media outlets reported on a series of virulently homophobic, anti-LGBTQ blog posts from Hagedorn including, “Hagedorn twice wrote that a landmark gay rights ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a Texas anti-sodomy law could lead to the legalization of bestiality, sex with animals, in America. ‘The idea that homosexual behavior is different than bestiality as a constitutional matter is unjustifiable,’ …”

One Wisconsin Now subsequently documented how in 2016, after being appointed to a court seat by former Gov. Scott Walker, Hagedorn helped found The Augustine Academy, a private school whose official policy bans members of the LGBTQ community from working there, would result in their termination if they were discovered to be LGBTQ and would expel students if they, or their parents, are gay. According to school records, Hagedorn continues to serve on the school’s board of directors.

Beilman-Dulin noted this was not the only instance of Hagedorn acting on his discriminatory views as an officer of the court. While working as Scott Walker’s lawyer in the governor’s office, Hagedorn tried to use the courts to undermine a Wisconsin law providing basic rights for LGBTQ couples like hospital visitation and inheritance.

She concluded, “This is not a question of Brian Hagedorn’s faith, it is a question of Brian Hagedorn’s trustworthiness. Working to undermine equal rights laws as an officer of the court and founding and helping lead an organization that explicitly discriminates against people while you are a judge does not earn trust you can or will treat all equally before the law.”

One Wisconsin Now is a statewide communications network specializing in effective earned media and online organizing to advance progressive leadership and values.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Mentioned in This Press Release

Organizations:

Recent Press Releases by One Wisconsin Now

Dan Kelly’s Opinion: It’s OK to Lie in Judicial Campaigns

State Supreme Court Candidate Co-Authored Column Opposing Efforts to Clean Up Court Campaigns

Campaign Cash Keeps Flowing to WILL’s Shill Dan Kelly

Over $14,000 from Board Members of Right-Wing Legal Group to State Court Justice’s Campaign

Right-Wing Group That Wants to Criminalize Abortion Backs Dan Kelly State Supreme Court Campaign

Dan Kelly Supporters Want Court Action to Allow Enforcement of Abortion Ban Dating to 19th Century

Leave a Reply

You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. Learn more.

Join now and cancel anytime.

If you are an existing member, sign-in to leave a comment.

Have questions? Need to report an error? Contact Us