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* UPDATED x1 - Shimkus rejects compromise * Gay marriage compromise plank emerges

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* Illinois Review is reporting on a proposed Illinois Republican Party compromise over its platform plank on gay marriage. The existing plank…

* The proposed compromise…

*** UPDATE *** Discuss.

IR…

Friday, Congressman John Shimkus (IL-15) stepped up to voice his support for maintaining the Illinois Republican Party’s platform support for one-man, one-woman marriage definition.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 20, 16 @ 10:57 am

Comments

Its a lot of words to say that we don’t think there should be gay marriage but we don’t know how to justify that position in government policy without sounding like religious ideologues.

Comment by Anonish Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:03 am
are they retaining the “embrace of the traditional family” header? signalling-wise, that seems as important as the internal language

Comment by anon Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:10 am
If the GOP continues with their stance on traditional opposite sex marriage and ever become successful in banning same sex marriage it will place the USA in contradiction to Canada, soon to be Mexico, nearly every Euro nation, several South American countries, possibly Israel soon- and others. It would align us with Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, China (but there’s protests there now to change), and most African countries. I’d like to stand with our allies on this issue and keep all religion out of government. If the USA reversed itself on same sex allowance- it just makes us look bad in light of our allies’ choice on the issue. But then again, we’re well on the path to that “looking bad.”

Comment by My thoughts Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:20 am
If my religious convictions as a business owner said that I couldn’t provide any services to Republicans, would they fight for that?

Or what if my religion dictated that I couldn’t serve biracial couples at my diner?

It seems they want to continue to pick and choose which religious beliefs of business owners should be protected and which shouldn’t be.

Comment by Night Rider Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:23 am
Slytherins still requiring discrimination…

All this does is saying… “We support signs saying, ‘We won’t serve you…’ but as a party, we embrace you.”.

Please stop writing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:25 am
So the GOP no longer favors a constitutional amendment to enshrine DOMA as federal policy. Since the new platform favors states setting marriage policy, by implication, it favors overturning the SCOTUS decision on marriage equality.

Comment by anony Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:29 am
All this arguing over something nobody ever reads–except to cure insomnia at 2:00am

Comment by train111 Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:37 am
It’s too bad that none of them can read polling data. They are on the wrong side of the numbers, as well as history.

I’d be more upset if anybody ever read the damned thing.

Comment by Indochine Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:44 am
Religious freedom is the “first” freedom, eh? Tell that to their presumptive nominee who thinks being a member of the Muslim faith means they should be deported to another country.

Comment by Just Me Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:50 am
OW summarizes well, but he missed something.

As written, this policy actually supports the enactment of non-discriminatory restroom facility policies for public schools, and gay marriage.

So while it might be wishy-washy in many ways, the fact that they recognize that at least government shouldn’t discriminate, and local governments can be compelled not to discriminate.

Congrats Pat Brady and Equality Illinois on your victory!

Comment by Juvenal Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:53 am
- Juvenal -

You’re more right than not correct.

I should take the “half full”, and be happy, but the language seemingly to endorse discrimination, tough bridge to cross, given the law here in Illinois.

Much respect, thanks for calling me “out”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:57 am
So, this basically says, “we haven’t changed our position, but we recognize some might disagree with us”. In the next section, I believe they agreed to paint the walls of the big tent white to make it look bigger. /s

Comment by Harvest76 Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:58 am
This is moot, in that about the only thing the legislature has been able to do is amend the Illinois Marriage Act and related statutes to enshrine gay marriage, and the U.D. Supreme Court has had its say on the issue.

Comment by jack28 Friday, May 20, 16 @ 11:58 am
Will someone please quote chapter and verse in the Bible, Torah, Koran or what ever the Buddhist version of a holy scripture is, that specifically says gay marriage is a sin?

No interpretation or commentary. Just the chapter and verse.

All I hear gay marriage is against someone’s religious freedom. But I have yet to see anyone quote chapter and verse from a religious scripture that says gay marriage is a sin.

As an atheist, I am saying put up or shut up.

Comment by Huh? Friday, May 20, 16 @ 12:09 pm
Good for Shimkus.

Comment by DGD Friday, May 20, 16 @ 12:16 pm
You know, it’s lovely topics. We got a budget crisis, we need more jobs, we need higher wages, we need more money for our schools. Let’s focus on what matters.

Comment by pundent Friday, May 20, 16 @ 12:33 pm
So using the Republican platform language that government has no business in marriage, it would mean no one could get married unless they have a religious connection? What about recognizing marriage for property reasons, Social Security, taxes? If only religious groups recognize marriage, then if my religion recognizes plural marriage that is okay? Marriage is as a much a government institution as it is a religious one.

Comment by illinifan Friday, May 20, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Huh?–Leviticus 20:13, which says if a man lies with a man. Of course, the Bible says at about the same point you are not supposed to eat pork or ostrich, and wash your sheets if you have an emission on them.

Comment by jack27 Friday, May 20, 16 @ 12:50 pm
LOL, does the self-proclaimed leader of the Illinois Republican Party have anything to say?

Can someone lend him a dictionary and turn the page to the definition of “leader?”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 20, 16 @ 12:53 pm
Sorry Huh?

Don’t have my Koran with me to provide the precise quote.
But it is there.

When I lived under Sharia law, homosexual acts were a chopping offense.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, May 20, 16 @ 12:56 pm
Why hasn’t Bob Dold released a statement on this the other way from Shimkus?

He was supposedly outspoken against party leadership re: LGBT issues yesterday per the Hill.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/280542-dems-cry-foul-after-house-gop-votes-down-lgbt-measure

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, May 20, 16 @ 1:25 pm
Has anybody asked Mark Kirk if he has any thoughts on his state’s GOP platform? With friends like these…

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 20, 16 @ 1:59 pm
“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:2

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1 Corinthians 6:9

1 Cor. also says “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 20, 16 @ 2:31 pm
Interesting how they STILL debate the virtues of bigotry.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 20, 16 @ 2:55 pm
Curious if they will have anything to say about thrice married presidential candidates.

Comment by Downstate Donkey Friday, May 20, 16 @ 2:58 pm