Fri. April 26, 2013
Chicago, IL -
Supporters of equal marriage rights for same-sex couples will counter-protest against a rally led by the anti-gay Illinois Family Institute (IFI) this Saturday in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood.
Both sides are attempting to influence a close House vote on Illinois's equal marriage rights bill that may happen sometime in the next few weeks.
Gay rights advocates said the Logan Square/Humboldt Park rally is part of a recent IFI strategy to drive a wedge between Latinos and gays, targeting predominantly Latino congregations for its anti-gay propaganda.
"For those of us who remember IFI's repeated dalliances with notorious immigrant-basher and perennial Illinois GOP candidate Jim Oberweis, this is pretty rich," said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. "IFI is pursuing a cynical divide-and-conquer strategy that ignores that many people share both immigrant and LGBT identities. While the IFI has flirted with the anti-immigrant 'Tea Party' movement, undocumented LGBTs are in the forefront of the movement for genuine immigration reform."
In 2009 the IFI was designated a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
Saturday's counter-protest will take place at 10:30 a.m. (time change from previous announcements), Saturday, April 27th at 2200 N. Sacramento Avenue in Chicago's Logan Square / Humboldt Park neighborhoods. The action is co-sponsored by the Gay Liberation Network (GLN), the Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago,and Queer Fest America.
From a news release
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