* An endorsement like this could actually help move the ball forward with some more conservative, pro-union Democrats and even some Republicans…
WHEREAS the Illinois AFL-CIO has a long history of supporting full equality and civil rights for all Americans, regardless of their race, their religion, their sex, their national origin, their sexual orientation or gender identity; and,
WHEREAS the Illinois AFL-CIO has worked in support of anti-discrimination protection, domestic partner benefits, and other protections and benefits for our union brothers and sisters who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender; and,
WHEREAS gay and lesbian workers in same-sex relationships are treated as second class citizens in their workplace, denied family and medical leave, equal insurance coverage and other benefits that build strong families in Illinois, despite the fact that 13 states and the District of Columbia extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples; and,
WHEREAS, the federal Government Accounting Office documents more than 1,100 federal benefits denied to loving, committed gay and lesbian couples, including Social Security benefits, worker compensation, pension benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act benefits, and many more; and,
WHEREAS President Barack Obama has endorsed the freedom to marry for all Americans, saying “We are a people who declared that we are all created equal – and the love we commit to one another must be equal as well”; and,
WHEREAS the National AFL-CIO filed a “friend of the court” brief asking the Supreme Court of the United States to find the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois AFL-CIO joins with leaders from the faith community, civil rights organizations, President Obama, our own unions and a growing majority of Americans in supporting marriage equality legislation that effectively protects religious freedom; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call on our Illinois state legislators to sponsor and vote for this legislation; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Illinois AFL-CIO will work to advance legislation and/or support ballot measures, at both the state and federal level, to confer full marriage equality, including health and pension benefits, family and medical leave, tax treatment and disability benefits to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 4:37 pm:
Completely see conservative Dems in the House using this for cover and Cash, voting to pass SB 10, hang out the HGOP, and the ONE voting SGOP Member a and using a non-inclusive bend on the Legisaltive GOP Caucuses, funded by the AFL-CIO, to continue to isolate the non-diverse ILGOP, reminding voters of the 3 GOP GA members for SSM out of 66 members …
And still the GOP GA Caucuses are no better off.
Huge turn of events against My Party.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 4:38 pm:
It’s pretty obvious by now that gay marriage is the coming thing, tradition or not, like it or not.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 4:45 pm:
George HW and Barbara Bush beat them to it over the weekend, but that’s alright. The more the better.
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 4:47 pm:
This is fantastic.
- eastsider - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 4:49 pm:
Seems like frmr GOP Chair Brady was a bit ahead of the curve on this one.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 4:49 pm:
- wordslinger -
How awesome was that, GHWB signing as “witness”, and giving a gift.
As for my Slytherin House Republicans view, bet it would be like …
“GEO. H. W. BUSH SIGNS WITNESS LINE “RINO” AT SSM IN MAINE”
Wonder how Oberweis is doing, maybe getting ready to run against Durbin with all that “Purity” he had to have, ousting Pat Brady on SSM … till he wasn’t.
- Juvenal - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 5:32 pm:
Not surprising, and surprisingly well-timed.
A formidable coalition is coming together around marriage equality.
Will marriage equality proponents remember when the pension issue comes to town where the unions were and the Civic Federation wasn’t?
- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 6:06 pm:
Juvenal — great point. The silence of the Civic Federation, as well as business groups like the Chicagoland Chamber, the Illinois Chamber, Commercial Club etc. has been deafening. Shame on them.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 6:19 pm:
This is great, I agree. This must be part of the new lobbying effort we read about recently, in which the SSM folks are reaching out to unions and pro-immigration groups.
- Juvenal - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 6:19 pm:
It is worse than that, Roland. The standardbearer for big business and pension reform in extremis is Bruce Rauner, and he says equal rights should be left up to a referendum.
Like I said, well-timed by the AFL-CIO. I hope the issue makes it onto their candidate questionaire.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Sep 26, 13 @ 9:30 pm:
Anyone else see that George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush were the witnesses at a same-sex wedding of their neighbors in Maine?
How crazy is it that the only two living former Republican presidents support gay marriage but their party is so vehemently opposed to it?
- VanillaMan - Friday, Sep 27, 13 @ 8:06 am:
Bon voyage!
See ya!
Buh-bye!
We’re moving on here!
Got bigger issues to resolve!
- sean - Friday, Sep 27, 13 @ 8:18 am:
AFL-CIO should be giving opinions on how to provide real solutions to the problems they caused that made this state a financial disaster.