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* So were Springfield police officers enforcing a religious dress code yesterday, or were they just keeping the peace? Sun-Times…
Throughout the day Tuesday, activists rallied, marched and met face-to-face with House members. Later in the day, a trio of Roman Catholic gay-rights activists — greatly outnumbered by police — silently prayed the rosary in support of Harris’ legislation at Springfield’s largest Catholic cathedral.
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, head of the Springfield Catholic diocese, warned earlier in the day that anyone wearing rainbow sashes — a sign of solidarity in the same-sex marriage push — would be barred entrance to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception because their defiance against church policy on marriage amounted to “blasphemy.”
The activists who showed up at a late-afternoon mass at the church were not wearing the sashes.
Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, said people have strong opinions on both sides of the issue.
“But I do believe that it could be categorized, to a large extent, as generational,” Hoffman said. “People who are my daughter’s age believe much differently than older individuals. That’s just kind of the sense I’ve gotten from the calls I receive.”
Hoffman voted in favor of civil unions but has previously said he’s opposed to gay marriage. In an interview this week, however, he left open the possibility of voting in favor of it.
“I haven’t decided. I’m still reviewing some of the information that’s been provided by both sides. Until we see a final draft of a bill, I think it’s premature,” Hoffman said.
Um, dude, the bill was drafted months ago. It passed the Senate in February.
* SJ-R headline…
Hundreds rally at Capitol for same-sex marriage
* Sun-Times lede…
Saying it’s “criminal” gays and lesbians can’t marry in Illinois, more than 1,000 gay-rights supporters braved a steady rain at the Capitol Tuesday to push stalled same-sex marriage legislation — but faced a harsh backlash from a top Catholic leader.
* Chicago GoPride headline…
Record-breaking crowds rally in Springfield for marriage equality
* The official Secretary of State Police estimate…
“This is our hour. This is our moment,” Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn told the estimated crowd of 3,000 that had gathered under a cold rain.
* Speaker Madigan was the center of attention for some leaders who addressed the crowd…
Noticeable absent was Lisa Madigan’s father, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D), who supports the measure but has yet to call the bill in the House.
“Mike Madigan’s House failed us,” said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. “We have a message to Mike Madigan, pass the damn bill this fall veto session.”
Thayer continued his impassioned message, “It is time. It is time Mike Madigan!”
At one point the energized crowd started chanting, “Call the bill!”
Lambda Legal’s Jim Bennett, chair of the Illinois Unites for Marriage Coalition, continued on message, “It’s time for Speaker Madigan to show some leadership and pass this bill now.”
* But this was unbelievably stupid…
The tension was on display through the day, as some in the crowd shouted “Call the vote” while [gay marriage bill sponsor Rep. Greg Harris] spoke. Others took to the stage in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln’s statue to declare they were prepared to vote out of office lawmakers who got in the way — including Harris.
Yeah, that’ll help. Primary the most ardent gay marriage supporter in the entire Illinois General Assembly. Great.
Anybody who does that is a moron, plain and simple.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:17 am
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The more rational the discussion; the better their chances. That goes for both sides of this. When you max out the crazy-meter, legislators stop listening.
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:25 am
So its not really marriage equality; its total mandatory acceptance of a lifestyle by all institutions, public and private.
Comment by Weltschmerz Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:29 am
Perhaps this comparison’s already been made - but the SSM zealots who threaten to depose Rep. Harris and other gay-marriage leaders strike me as the left’s mirror-image of conservative purists such as Ted Cruz and his followers. They’re in danger of wrecking their own best interests.
Forest, trees, etc.
Folks: Greg Harris is absolutely committed to this issue and knows what he’s doing. Please, don’t shot-block his (and your) best hopes at securing passage of this very important legislation.
Comment by Linus Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:29 am
@Weltschmerz - You’re several years too late with that hyperbolic hogwash.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:41 am
This is also true for many other issues.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:42 am
Keep in mind that the six states so far that have legalized gay marriage via the legislature are Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Heavy emphasis on the Northeast there; New Hampshire is pretty economically conservative but socially very libertarian. The analogy that’s most interesting for us is Minnesota.
It’s gonna happen. But despite being a very “blue” state for president, Illinois has its cultural conservatism and gay marriage isn’t an easy slam dunk. Might take a little more time to get the wavering Dems in line.
Comment by ZC Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:49 am
MrJM, I second (third?) that emotion!
Comment by Linus Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:50 am
Reminds me of the ERA movement back in the 80’s. You don’t have to splatter pigs’ blood all over the Capitol to get my attention. Just use your grown up words and thoughts.
Comment by E Man Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:59 am
So three gay-rights activists prayed the Rosary at the Cathedral. That’s not much of a protest, or even disrespectful, and hardly representative of the whole movement for marriage equality. I thought it was the wrong time and place, if passing the bill was the goal for the day, but of course those three individuals have their own rights.
It is representative, however, of the 2 out of 3 professed Roman Catholics in this state who are for passing this bill in the secular realm, which does not impact the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony in the least. The laiety of the Church should not always be ignored by the clergy.
That’s hardly any kind of statement of “total mandatory acceptance of a lifestyle by all institutions, public or private.”
There is no such requirement related to this bill, quite the opposite in the actual language of law itself.
Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 9:59 am
MrJM - And “…some animals are more equal than others.”
Comment by Weltschmerz Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 10:03 am
I’ve seen and watched Harris for years in the chicago media on this and other issues and while I disagree with him on so many things it’s not worth listing he seems like one of the decent, honest, thoughtful human beings down there.
He shouldn’t be deposed but it should be seen as a sign of strength that the gay community has that kind of swagger now. I think time is with them as GLBT friendly millenials move out from the city in the next few years and start buying the homes of less gay friendly boomers and silent generation members.
Comment by shore Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 10:17 am
Police in a church? I hope they could read minds to ensure that only the right things were being prayed for.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 10:25 am
“Nothing will be done until pensions are cut” said
Governor Squeezy.
Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 10:28 am
wordslinger: And if the police can read their minds, then it sounds like the Church needs to upgrade their wireless communication system, doesn’t it?
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 10:52 am
Dillard speaking at anti-SB 10 rally. Brady reportedly on the way.
Farmer Bruce must be gathering sigs for his referendum.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 11:27 am
==“Mike Madigan’s House failed us,” said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. “We have a message to Mike Madigan, pass the damn bill this fall veto session.”==
Yea, that always works. Actually it really does show how gays are treated differently. If anybody else called Madigan out like that he would call the bill and kill it!
Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 11:32 am
==MrJM - And “…some animals are more equal than others.”==
So now you’re supporting SB10? (/snark)
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 12:26 pm
I staye4d away from this Post that Rich put up to think about things, and the one thing I do know about these two days, the Bill, supporters, opponents …
The one thing I know is that Greg Harris knows his stuff and any group, and leader, any coalitions that thinks Greg Harris is not an asset to a cause, Bill, coalition whatever, is sadly not in touch with what is going on in the General Assembly, and what is going on specifically with SB10.
Seriously, this is what would happen if Rep. Harris was Primaried, and (although very unlikely, VERY unlikely) lost.
The group that wanted Greg Harris out … would be the FIRST … to hire Greg Harris to help, because after all the banners are put away by both sides, and all the buses leave, and the stages and microphones are put in storage, its the workhorses like Greg Harris are the ones who do the work that needs to get done … especially when no one is looking.
“Dear SB10 Advocates,
The more you want to blame a Greg Harris, and more you throw tantrums about how things are not getting done …that you have no clue about things get done in the first place, the tougher you are making it for Greg Harris to speak to ‘noses’ that might vote your way, as you undermind you biggest advoacte and supporter for cheap cheers at a rally.
Learn. Please.
Oswego Willy”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 3:14 pm
I live in Harris’s district (and I am a Catholic). Greg Harris is not going to be defeated in a primary. Period. He is decent, hard-working, smart, and principled. He will be the hero when marriage equality passes, and the sour voices of envy within the gay community will fade into the night.
Comment by Elder Wednesday, Oct 23, 13 @ 7:33 pm