Chicagomarriage equalityillinois-gay-marriage-newsGay Marriage

Illinois Gay Marriage Opponents Gather At Capitol Day After Supporters' Rally

Gay Marriage Foes Gather At Illinois Capitol Day After Supporters
Reuters
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By Lisa Maria Garza

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Chants of "One man! One woman!" filled the Illinois Capitol building on Wednesday as opponents of gay marriage rallied to protest a measure that would legalize same-sex unions in the state.

The day before, supporters converged on the same location in Springfield, calling for Illinois to be the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Illinois, a place President Barack Obama calls home, is one of a handful of states with a Democratic legislature and governor that had been targeted by gay rights activists to approve same-sex marriage this year.

Fourteen states and the District of Columbia recognize gay marriage, with New Jersey the latest to allow it earlier this week. Obama has urged the Illinois state legislature to pass it.

The Illinois state Senate voted in favor on Valentine's Day 2013, but the full state House of Representatives, which has a large Democratic majority, did not consider the bill because of uncertainty over whether it had the votes to pass.

The bill did not come up for a vote in the House before it adjourned on Wednesday until Nov. 5.

Civil unions are legal for gay and lesbian couples in Illinois but that does not guarantee federal benefits to gay partners. Social security payments are limited to same-sex couples living in states which have legalized gay nuptials.

The "Defend Marriage Lobby Day" rally opposed to same-sex marriage on Wednesday drew an estimated 2,500 people, according to Secretary of State Capitol Police. They had put the size of Tuesday's crowd supporting gay marriage at about 3,000.

A large wooden cross with "God abhors civil unions", written in white paint, was propped against a statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of the Capitol, where a rainbow flag representing gay rights had been draped across his shoulders on Tuesday.

"We are here today to send a clear message to our state lawmakers that marriage should not be redefined and undermined, but should rather be promoted and protected," said David Smith, director of the Illinois Family Institute, coordinators of the rally against same-sex marriage.

A poll of 600 voters - commissioned last week by Equality Illinois, which supports gay rights - found that 52 percent of likely Illinois voters say they would support a law legalizing gay marriage, while 40 percent would oppose it.

But the leadership of the Illinois Catholic church, as well as some African-American Christian ministers are strongly opposed and have endorsed ads in key Illinois electoral districts.

On Tuesday, Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki barred from the local cathedral anyone praying for same-sex marriage, calling it blasphemous. (Reporting By Lisa Maria Garza; editing by Gunna Dickson)

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Before You Go

Gay Marriage In The United States
Connecticut(01 of14)
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Since November 12, 2008 (credit:AP)
Delaware(02 of14)
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Gay marriage law enacted, weddings to begin July 1. (credit:Getty Images)
Iowa(03 of14)
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Since April 3, 2009 (credit:Getty)
Maine(04 of14)
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In 2012, Maine voted in favor of a ballot amendment to legalize gay marriage. (credit:Alamy)
Maryland(05 of14)
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The gay marriage bill was signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on March 1, 2012. Opponents later gathered enough signatures to force the issue back onto the ballot in November 2012, but voters rejected the effort against gay marriage. (credit:AP)
Massachusetts(06 of14)
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Since May 17, 2004 (credit:AP)
Minnesota(07 of14)
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Same-sex marriage bill signed into law in May. Gay marriages will begin in August. (credit:Getty Images)
New Hampshire(08 of14)
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Since January 1, 2010 (credit:Flickr: jimbowen0306)
New York(09 of14)
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Since July 24, 2011 (credit:Flickr: alh1)
Rhode Island(10 of14)
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Bill passed in May. Law takes effect on August 1, 2013. (credit:Getty Images)
Vermont(11 of14)
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Since September 1, 2009 (credit:Flickr: Tony Fischer Photography)
Washington(12 of14)
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On February 13, 2012, Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signed a law allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies to begin on June 7, 2012. The process was delayed by gay marriage opponents who gathered enough signatures to put the issue up to a state vote in November 2012. They voted to approve it on Election Day. (credit:AP)
Washington D.C.(13 of14)
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Since March 9, 2010 (credit:Flickr: Vox Efx)
California(14 of14)
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The state initially began conducting gay marriages on June 16, 2008. On November 5, 2008, however, California voters passed Proposition 8, which amended the state's constitution to declare marriage as only between a man and a woman. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled against that law, and the state shortly thereafter began sanctioning same-sex nuptials. (credit:AP)
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