* Crowds gathered in front of Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia’s (D-Aurora) district office over the weekend to rally in favor and in opposition to gay marriage…
“We want to send a message to the representatives of Illinois, including Chapa LaVia,” said Edwin Ruiz, a Spanish-speaking pastor who is part of the International Federation of Chaplains and Human Rights, a group that has chapters across the United States. “I am here because I believe firmly in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. The Bible is very specific about that.”
Both sides of the demonstration were quick to say they had assembled a diverse group of supporters that included faith leaders and Hispanics.
“There was far more diversity on our side,” said Peter LaBarbera, the founder and president of Naperville-based Americans for Truth, which does not support same-sex marriage. “I know (Chapa LaVia) has got a big decision here. Many Latinos are on the pro-traditional marriage side. And Aurora has a heavily Hispanic population.”
The Rev. Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle, a pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Romeoville, came as part of the counter-demonstration to support the legislation.
She testified in Springfield in 2009 in support of legislation to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and did so again this year in favor of legalized same-sex marriage.
“This is a civil rights issue, not a religious issue,” she said, carrying a sign that read: “I am a pastor, I am a Christian, I support marriage equality.” “God willing, I won’t need it much longer,” she said as she put her sign down.
* A couple from the opponents. First up, Latino chants…
* Co-Founder of Gay Liberation Network, Andy Thayer, and Executive Director of Illinois Family Institute, David E. Smith are both interviewed by Illinois Review…
