* Marni Pyke…
Bailey opposes abortion including in cases of rape or incest. However, “I have no problem when it comes to the point of saving the life of the mother … I don’t consider that an abortion.”
Bailey would seek to end taxpayer funding of abortion and try to repeal a new law that ended required parental notification when minors get abortions.
But he supports the idea of making “abortion unnecessary. Let’s empower churches and civic groups and religious organizations to offer real help and hope to pregnant women.” […]
Democrats have warned the Supreme Court will next act to reduce access to contraceptives or restrict same-sex marriages.
“I believe in biblical marriage between a man and a woman,” Bailey said. But in Illinois, “currently with same-sex marriage, it’s the law. Illinois decided to make it a law, I understand the reasons. I will not be seeking to mess with that; we have bigger problems to deal with.”
I’m so old I remember when the Democrats nominated a southern Illinois gubernatorial candidate with those very same beliefs (Glenn Poshard, 1998).
* Pritzker campaign…
As Pride month comes to an end, Darren Bailey wasted no time reminding voters that he cannot and will not be a governor for all of Illinois. In an interview Thursday, Bailey said that he “believe[d] in biblical marriage between a man and a woman.”
In his concurring opinion on the Roe decision, Justice Clarence Thomas signaled the Supreme Court may revisit marriage equality. At a time of great uncertainty for LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities, Illinoisans need a leader who will proudly fight for their rights––not one who doesn’t even recognize they exist.
“Every day Darren Bailey shows us just how extreme he really is,” said JB for Governor Spokeswoman Natalie Edelstein. “Marriage equality is the law of the land and all Americans, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can exercise their right to marry. Illinois deserves a governor who will not just “say gay,” but who will march alongside them at Pride, protest with them for Black Trans Lives, support queer-owned small businesses, and above all else ensure their rights are protected.
Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker expanded the Illinois Human Rights Act to include LGBTQ+ residents as a protected class and expanded infertility insurance to cover LGBTQ+ families. From inclusive LGBTQ+ curriculums in schools, to expanded Medicaid coverage for gender affirming surgery, to requiring single occupancy restrooms be designated as gender neutral––Governor Pritzker has made great strides in affirming that Illinois is a place where everyone can feel supported.
*** UPDATE *** Sen. Bailey was on WGN with Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand yesterday…
Q: There’s an ad against you on TV right now that says you would support an abortion ban, including when it comes to incest or rape. Is that true or not true?
A: No, that’s not true…
Q: But they show you agreeing with it? Did they edit it? Or what?
A: I said ‘at this time,’ and that was early on in my candidacy and the laws of Illinois have changed since then abortion has been codified into a law as a medical procedure.
Q: So, what would you support as governor, the state of Illinois when it comes to abortion?
A: I’ve been very clear about that during this entire campaign. And since then, I’ve said that, number one, we must end taxpayer funded abortion, there’s people residents of Illinois have no stomach or desire to be paying for abortions, let alone this increase that Governor Pritzker wants to bring in. We need to restore parental notification. And because parents need to have they need to be able to make choices for their young children, 12 year old girls that this is ridiculous. And then finally, an idea that was picked up in some of the churches on the Southside of Chicago that I’ve been presented with and I’ve been working on is this idea to make abortion unnecessary. And we do that by making adoption easier. We will do that by partnering with churches, civic groups and religious organization to make sure that pregnant women get the true care and opportunities that they deserve. I’m having to make a choice. Do I get an abortion or not?
Q: If the legislature would have passionate abortion ban, would you sign it?
A: Well, that’s not going to happen.
Q: We just, [crosstalk] I want to know what, but I just want to, Senator I want to zero in on where you stand in your position on it. If they were, and I agree with you it’s very unlikely, would you sign it?
A: Right now, my stance is that I have said that banning abortion is not a solution. We have got to work together. So hopefully, hopefully, I can work together with many groups in the Chicago area, to come to some terms and present some real options where government can partner with organizations to offer true hope and choice to pregnant women. That is the goal, so there’s, that’s your answer.
* More…
Q: Representative, are you going to support the LGBTQ community?
A: Well, I believe that, you know, in biblical marriage, that marriage is between a man and a woman. But I can tell you this, I don’t, law has been created. I embrace and love everyone as Jesus loves them. I don’t intend to hinder and get in their way at all. So, as a matter of fact, one of my best friends in the House that I consider a friend that I’ve been able to work with is a Representative Greg Harris, we’ve had an amazing the two years that I served in the Senate and in the House and now in the Senate, I’ve been able to refer to him to help get things done and to bring some ideas to him and to partner with him on some bills. So, so no, this whole, Governor Pritzker twisting all this nonsense trying to make this election about to abortion, this, is a problem. And this us going to be on Governor Pritzker’s head and that’s why we’re going to win in November because the true problems in Illinois encompass everyone, and that is crime, high taxes and unsafe schools. We’re going to get those six, we’re going to bring opportunity up to Illinois. That’s what people are worried about.
