Tag Archives: Illinois

“Brady has betrayed us, betrayed his party, misrepresented ‘key Republican values,’ and insulted conservative voters in Illinois and across America who deserve leaders who refuse to sell out on such a fundamental and crucial issue like the defense of marriage, children and family. The future of marriage in Illinois demands that Brady be replaced immediately with a brave pro-marriage individual …

“If people want to throw me out because I took a stand on an issue of discrimination [as] the chairman of the Republican Party, the party founded by Abraham Lincoln, then that’s – that’s up to them and they’re free to do it. But I’m not backing down.” – Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady, reacting to widespread calls for his …

“Dear Marriage Supporter, This year is going to be BIG! We’ve been working over the holiday break to formulate our national strategy for 2013. We’re putting the finishing touches on our plans right now, and I’m excited about sharing some major new initiatives with you in the coming weeks…so be on the look out for those emails! By the time …

The Illinois legislature meets today for the beginning of the new session and marriage equality bills are set to be introduced in both chambers.  Via press release from Equality Illinois: On the first day of the new legislative session, sponsors Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) say they will work to pass the legislation, known as the …

This week: “An exciting start to the year, with a win and a setback in Illinois. Two brand new marriage bills are on the fast track in Rhode Island. And a Congressional bill to repeal DOMA has picked up two more Republican endorsements, but one of them doesn’t quite count.”

Yesterday Diocese of Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki testified against same-sex marriage before the Illinois state Senate. His testimony came just days after he was forced to put one of his own kinky priests on leave for calling 911 to get help to free himself from handcuffs and a mouth gag. NO SEX UNTIL MARRIAGE! Below is the letter Paprocki is …

The 911 operator in Springfield, Illinois fielded an unusual emergency call from the local Catholic church in late November.  The story was published yesterday by the Illinois Times. The pastor of St. Aloysius church on Springfield’s north end has been granted a leave of absence after he called 911 from the rectory and told a dispatcher that he needed help …

Last summer the anti-gay Thomas More Society was granted standing to defend Cook County, Illinois against marriage equality lawsuits brought by Lambda Legal and the ACLU.  Those cases are still active despite the recent push in the state legislature.  Yesterday Thomas More issued a warning to any politician that backs the marriage equality bill.

Despite last night’s win before an Illinois Senate committee, activists say that they will take the marriage equality fight to the next session of the legislature. Via press release from Equality Illinois: Today, the movement for marriage equality achieved a milestone victory, with the adoption of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act by the Senate Executive Committee. This was …

There’s a bit of confusion in the activism back channel as to what’s going on, since earlier reports indicated that we were done for the week in Illinois. But click over right now and watch as an Illinois Senate committee debates its marriage equality bill. At this writing some bigot is droning in the familiar manner about the oppression of …

The Windy City Times reports: Senate Democrats had hoped for a vote on Thursday, but they failed to secure the votes to waive a 24-hour rule on the posting of the original marriage bill. Democrats then tacked marriage equality onto an unrelated bill in an attempt to push it through faster. But two supportive senators have been called away from …

Yesterday Illinois GOP chair Pat Brady began calling Republican legislators to urge them to support the same-sex marriage bill. Today NOM is calling for Brady’s resignation and is vowing to unseat any Republican who heeds his call. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today pledged to form an Illinois state PAC and spend $250,000 defeating Republican legislators who vote in …

In a slick move, the Illinois same-sex marriage bill has been withdrawn as a standalone item and will instead be attached as an amendment to a bill that mostly concerns car rentals. The state Senate is expected to vote on the item shortly. Illinois Senators will no longer be voting on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, a bill …

Whoa! Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles is calling GOP lawmakers asking them to support a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage, he said today. Brady said he was making the calls as a citizen, outside of his official role with the Illinois Republican Party. “I think it’s time for people to support this,” Brady said. A state …

“Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The Illinois General Assembly is being asked to consider a bill called ‘The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.’ This is a deceptive title that ignores basic truths. Marriage comes to us from nature. The human species comes in two complementary sexes, male and female. Their sexual union is called marital. It not only …

(Via Good As You)

An Illinois Senate committee is expected to begin debate on a same-sex marriage bill today. A vote may come as soon as tomorrow. Via Windy City Times: The Senate will be in session Wednesday afternoon, and LGBT leaders say that a vote on a bill seeking gay marriage is likely to come sooner rather than later. Sen. Heather Steans tells …

Through his spokesman, President Obama has issued a statement in support of same-sex marriage in his home state of Illinois. “While the president does not weigh in on every measure being considered by state legislatures, he believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect,” White House spokesman Shin Inouye told the Chicago Sun-Times on Saturday. “As he …

In two nearly identical notices, NOM has posted emergency warnings that same-sex marriage is about to be legalized in Illinois and Minnesota.  From the Minnesota post: In November, Minnesotans voted to maintain the status quo on marriage, as Minnesota statutes already recognize marriage as the union of a husband and wife. Now gay marriage activists are trying to force a …

As the marriage equality campaign continues to pick up speed in Illinois, a coalition of LGBT rights and progressive groups has formed. Via press release: In the wake of the announcement by key legislators that they will seek passage of an Illinois marriage equality bill in January 2013, a broad range of organizations have joined to form a new coalition, …