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Major business group endorses gay marriage bill

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* From a press release…

Saying that it is “good for business” in the state, the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) today announced its strong support for the freedom to marry and urged members of the Illinois House to act quickly in passing SB10, the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. The Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield in less than two weeks for its fall veto session.

“As owners of small and large businesses, our members know the importance of treating all customers equally,” said IRA president Sam Toia. “It’s the right thing to do — and it’s good for business.”

Toia pointed to a study released in March by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law showing that marriage equality would generate up to $103 million in spending in Illinois within the first three years of SB10’s passage. The boost to the wedding business and related industries such as hospitality would create 281 jobs, the study estimated.

Last month, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Ryback came to Chicago to invite same-sex couples from Chicago to travel to Minneapolis to get legally married. “This means that instead of keeping business and dollars in Illinois, couples and their families will leave the state to hold their weddings, their receptions, and their rehearsal dinners,” Toia said. “As a businessman, I worry that Illinois is falling behind.”

* And a Chicago alderman is doing just that. Leaving Illinois to get married…

The alderman who represents much of Uptown on the Chicago City Council is headed to Washington state next month to tie the knot with his longtime partner, frustrated over a stalled gay marriage bill in the Illinois House.

“We are going to go elsewhere,” said Ald. James Cappleman, 46th. “It’s kind of sad that a Chicago alderman, an elected official, has to leave his own state. But we’ll keep fighting. There’s a lot of people who want to get married.”

Cappleman and Richard Thale, who met in church, have been together for 22 years. The plan to get married Nov. 22, surrounded by relatives who live out West. The couple already have a civil union in Illinois.

* Meanwhile, the pro gay marriage forces are highlight a “couple of the week” in the run-up to veto session. From a press release…

The series kicks off with Lee Edwards and Brenda Lee, a South Shore couple who first met 23 years ago. In spite of their love and long-term commitment, their home state continues to deny them the freedom to marry.

“We just wish to continue living together in our beautiful, supportive relationship,” said Edwards. “We are waiting for the day that Illinois realizes that our love is important, too.”

Edwards and Lee met at a friend’s barbecue while enjoying a sunny day in Chicago. Over the years, they have spent much time together at their church and are involved in local ministries.

The video…

* On the other side of the equation, the Illinois Family Institute is cranking up the heat in advance of the veto session…

I am so excited to see how our grassroots efforts are making a difference. You made it possible for us to sell out the IFI Fall Banquet that we held recently with Dr. Benjamin Carson. Over 1,100 Illinoisans turned out to show their support for Christian values. This event reminded me that, despite what media pundits want us to believe, protecting life, family, and freedom is a value shared by many, many citizens. […]

The push for same-sex “marriage” is meant to divide people, and it is, of course, a negative. Secular progressives know that if they push this negative hard enough it will eventually appear to be a positive. They hate the God of Christianity and the Bible.

We must resist this scheme. As Christians, it is our duty. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, let’s make sure marriage revisionists go no further in advancing their effort to pervert the legal definition of marriage.

You can help right now by contacting your legislator:

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:15 am

Comments

This like many of their social issues is a loser for the GOP. Get back to being the party of less govt and less spending and stay out of silly issues that drive away otherwise fiscally sane people.

Comment by Fed up Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:20 am
So the IFI is an explicitly Christian organization?

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:20 am
*They hate the God of Christianity and the Bible.*

Yes. That is exactly what is driving the push for marriage equality. How did I not see it before?

Comment by Montrose Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:27 am
So why does everybody who disagrees with the IFI “Hate the God of Christianity and the Bible”?
Do they have some sort of direct uplink to God so that they exclusively know him and his will? I think the Bible has pleny to say about the sin of pride and arrogance, and Jesus certianly had plenty to say to the smug religious set who thought they had it all together to the exclusion of everybody else.

Favorite quote from Flanders on the Simpsons: “I do everything that’s in the Bible–even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff.”

train111

Comment by train111 Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:28 am
Anyone who puts scare quotes around the word marriage gets promptly ignored by me.

Comment by ChicagoR Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:29 am
Is IFI an explicitly “Christian” advocacy group?

Yes, at least by their own definitions.

The needs of real families have little to do with their mission. Just another misnamed advocacy “Institute.”

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:31 am
Just curious: how many gay couple have gotten married in MN, and how much did they spend while there? I’m leery of a CA based study that projects economic benefits for IL.

Comment by otoh Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:38 am
–They hate the God of Christianity and the Bible.–

Who are the haters? Take the planks out of your own eyes.

There are plenty of people of faith and religious leaders who support gay marriage. Do they hate God, too? What a thing to say.

And just who is this “God of Christianity?” Is there more than one God? I was taught there is one, and that we are all God’s children — and sinners, too.

Of course, in my church, we didn’t spend a lot of time searching for enemies. It was more about personal salvation and trying to live The Golden Rule.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:40 am
Wonder if the folks at IFI were upset when “marriage revisionists” successfully pushed to allow people to marry people of other races and denominations, too. That used to be a big no-no, too, guys.

Comment by TJ Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:43 am
Lee Edwards and Brenda Lee are clearly a threat to my marriage, my family, my children and generations unborn.

I’ve got my eyes on them. They don’t fool me.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:51 am
IFI seems to agree with hard line Islam. They not only frown upon gay marriage, but just being gay carries a DEATH PENELTY.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 10:55 am
What the IFI doesn’t seem to accept is they’ve already lost the war blocking gay marriage in this state. Married gay couples are here, they can live here in Illinois and soon will have state recognition through the court system if not through legislation. Why don’t they give it up and take up the Christian message “Love Thy Neighbor” no matter who they are?

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 11:00 am
If the IFI is so worried about “dividing” people, I have to wonder why they don’t put the same energy into repealing laws permitting divorce as they do in opposing laws intended to unite people.

Comment by Joan P. Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 11:00 am
@Wordslinger. Nailed it.

Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 11:07 am
Dear IFI: Thanks for the reminder to contact my legislator about the gay marriage bill. I’m going to do that and tell her to vote for it.

Comment by Peoria Pete Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 11:07 am
“Over 1,100 Illinoisans turned out…”

And that many people will turn out for a documentary screening at a high school, e.g. http://goo.gl/X8Np98

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 11:57 am
== They hate the God of Christianity and the Bible ==

While accusing their opponents of hate, the IFI denies that it hates gays. That’s called wanting to have it both ways.

Comment by reformer Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 12:13 pm
Ald James Cappelman: “It’s kind of sad that a Chicago alderman, an elected official, has to leave his own state. But we’ll keep fighting. There’s a lot of people who want to get married.”

Yes, there are a lot of people who want to get married, and it’s sad for ALL of them that they have to leave the state to marry. I thought it was weird how he made it sound like denying an elected official the right to marry in his own state was especially egregious.

Comment by ??? Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 12:50 pm
I’m still intrigued by the “God of Christianity” reference.

What’s the suggestion there? That the God of Islam or the God of the Judaism is something different and false? From my reading, those three religions all claim the God of Abraham as the one true God.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 1:40 pm
Talk to your Mayor, Alderman Cappleman.

When ADM came to him asking for support for their relocation, did he ask where they were at on marriage equality?

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 1:43 pm
BTW, good for Toia an the IRA, but kind of an easy call and not a ton of help. I believe their members are heavily concentrated in Cook.

When are the Illinois Chamber, Manufacturers and Retail Merchants going to join the AFL-CIO in the cause?

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Oct 10, 13 @ 8:34 pm