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* 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.
* Both sides had videos. The proponents borrowed from the Blues Brothers…
* 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…
IR also posted some photos.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:51 am
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Different Christian sects disagreeing? Has that ever happened before?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:58 am
Linda, Just vote yes. It’s the right thing to do.
Comment by frustrated GOP Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:16 am
Wait until Mike Madigan says what he’s for.
Comment by Bongy the Pothead Python Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:28 am
Mr. Ruiz the bible also supports slaver (exodus 21:1-20 and Leviticus 44-46) Leviticus notes that our slaves need to come from neighboring countries, such as say, Mexico. If the bible sets forth the law we are to apply to each other today when will you be arguing for re-establishment of slavery? I would note exodus also has special slave laws for women who have fewer rights then men. So under the clear law of the bible will you support removing women’s rights as well?
After all would it not be homophobic and discriminatory to just pick the bible laws we like to follow and ignore the rest?
Comment by Ghost Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:32 am
I am so tired of “The Bible” being used to argue against gay marriage. Anybody here want to talk about King David’s marital history? Solomon? Abraham?
Not to mention Lot… (eeeeuuuww)
I grew up Baptist, and I love me some Bible. But all these folks who cite Biblical opposition and say in the same breath that gay marriage will lead to polygamy — folks, you need to spend less time at these protests and more time at Bible study. (Sunday nights, right after youth fellowship…)
Not to mention — the Bible is pretty clear that, if your brother dies leaving a childless widow, it’s your duty to marry her. Not sure how my bro-in-law and sis-in-law would feel about that one.
Comment by soccermom Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:40 am
For what it is worth Bongy the Pothead Python she is a bit of her own woman at times, she endorsed and supported someone besides the Madigan candidate in the primary for the new seat out here.
Kind of surprised and not surprised she is on the fence on this, I suspect she is getting a lot of pressure from part of her base. Don’t think if she voted for she would lose a primary, but she would likely pick up a challenger.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:57 am
@ OneMan - being from the Fox Valley area myself, I’m glad you pointed out her independence.
I’m aware she is a church goer and having the churches organize a political assault on her must be difficult. What is baffling is that IFI organized a rally to target a safe Democrat, that ran in opposed im 2012.
A relative of mine in attendance noticed that the majority of the crowd were from Chicago.
Comment by Estubborn Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:20 pm
@ Estubborn did they say the crowd from both sides was mostly from Aurora or just one side?
Was going to go and watch but had some scouting activities to take care of (insert joke here)
Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:24 pm
@OneMan - both crowds were from out of district. Politically, why wouldn’t they target Kifowit instead? She’s an actual target.
Comment by Estubborn Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:37 pm
==The Bible is very specific about that==
News flash. The Bible isn’t the law. I love how Christians are all up in arms because they think their rights are being trampled on. My rights are being trampled on by their attempts to shove the Bible in my face as if it matters in the context of actual law. Stop shoving your religion down my throat.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 12:57 pm
freedom is freedom. do the right thing, Rep. CLV!
Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:07 pm
@Estubborn, they wouldn’t target Kifowit because I think she has established a position on the issue. They are going after Linda since she has said she is on the fence.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 1:40 pm
Gotta love Smith and the IFI. “Andy Thayer is intentionally deceptive! Now let me tell you about CC being RUN OUT OF THE STATE and all those poor persecuted Christians who Andy SAYS weren’t denied special privilege to violate anti-discrimination laws in their public businesses, I don’t know why he’d SAY that, he’s just so intentionally deceptive…”
Bonus points for volunteering the information that the academic community has found him to be a bigot.
Comment by jaranath Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 2:13 pm
Just watched the inteview with David Smith. Mr. Smith, they call you a bigot because you pretty clearly demonstrated you are one. And apparently Mr. Smith thinks it’s ok for kids to engage in hate speech in schools to gay kids. Seems to be against calling those kids bullies. Also, I guess Mr. Smith also thinks it’s ok if businesses are allowed to discriminate. Maybe they can put up signs saying “No gays allowed.” That’s pretty much what he is saying since he thinks businesses should have the right to refuse to provide services to gay people. Bigot indeed.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 2:50 pm
Aurora is majority Latino, but not majority latino voters. And those that are registered do not turn out to vote.
That said, most people in Aurora love Linda Chapa LaVia. She’s an incredibly nice person and her constituents don’t forget that. She has a lot of political power but doesn’t seem to know it.
I would hope she’d choose to be on the right side of history and do what she knows is right. This one is a no-brainer, even in a socially conservative bastion like Aurora.
Comment by Undercover Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 3:36 pm
I’ll bet some of those people are wearing clothing made of poly-cotton or some other unbiblical blend.
Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 4:45 pm
Aurora is majority Latino, but not majority latino voters. And those that are registered do not turn out to vote.
That said, most people in Aurora love Linda Chapa LaVia. She’s an incredibly nice person and her constituents don’t forget that. She has a lot of political power but doesn’t seem to know it.
I think her part of town may be fairly close to majority lation voters and their turn out isn’t bad…
Also I think you a right that she is loved in town and the only person who had a shot at beating Tom, then again if she ran against Tom that would have caused some other issues with what is going on downtown I suspect.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 4:46 pm
Please. Linda our daughter needs protection for herself and her 2 moms .. So many kids in this type family makeup need the equality.
Comment by State worker Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 5:33 pm
I like how Mr. Smith starts out by attacking his opponent personally… and winds up by calling his own speech “hate speech.” (He REALLY did that… watch it again.)
Gosh, I WISH there was a way to get it through these people’s heads that they lose NOTHING when this passes. Every single family relationship that is currently defined as a marriage will continue to be defined as a marriage, and men can CONTINUE to marry women. If marriage, to you, equals one man and one woman… Then great! You’re in luck. Marriages like that will not be against the law. I just don’t get it.
Comment by FoxValleyPride1 Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:49 pm
For Peter LaBarbera to be touting the “diversity” on the anti-equal marriage side is rich. Their rally’s sponsor, the “Illinois Family Institute,” and his “Americans For Truth About Homosexuality” have both been listed as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/the-hard-liners#.UXYL6aKTi-1). When he was head of the IFI, LaBarbera was one of the foremost advocates for the perennial runs for higher office by Jim Oberweis, he of the infamous Soldier Field/anti-immigrant television ads.
Comment by Andy Thayer Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 11:24 pm
This is not about the bible. This is not about religion. This is not about Hispanics. This is about allowing two people who love each other, to marry. Please be on the right side of history here Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia.
Comment by David Schuringa Tuesday, Apr 23, 13 @ 11:03 am