Gay Activists Demand Equal Marriage Rights on Valentine's Day
Thu. February 12, 2004 12:00 AM
Chicago, IL -
Pro-gay activists in Chicago will be among those in about two dozen cities around the country rallying on Valentine's Day for equal rights and against a proposed amendment to the Constitution banning equal marriage rights for same sex couples. The rallies were spearheaded by a new, web-based group, DontAmend.com, in conjuction with local activists around the country. Chicago's rally will start at 12 noon, Saturday, February 14 at the official residence of Cardinal Francis George, located at North Avenue and State Parkway.
"Intoning a mysterious 'natural law,' George precludes ALL Lesbians and Gays from entering into the civil contract of marriage, not just his own members," said Bob Schwartz, spokesperson for the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, the organizer of the protest. "George seeks to impose his religious beliefs on EVERYONE in society, whether of his religion, some other religion, or no religion. He backs the proposed anti-gay amendment to the US Constitution. He loudly protests when anyone calls him anti-gay, yet he led the fight to prevent passage of Illinois's Senate Bill 101, and thus prevented LGBT people from being protected from discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing."
Featured speaker at the rally will be Ms. Lynn Sprout, a downstate Illinois nurse who was fired from her job when she attempted to take time off to care for her terminally ill partner. Also speaking at the rally will be representatives of Equality Illinois, the statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people's lobby group, and the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, the city's leading LGBT direct action group.
Pro-gay activists point out that only with equal marriage rights does a person have the right to medical decision-making for a loved one, parenting rights, access to insurance, inheritance protections including social security benefits, and immigration rights. If the proposed anti-gay amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed, it would be the first time, with the temporary exception of Prohibition, that the federal Constitution was amended to take away rights.
"The religious right pretends that if we win equal marriage rights, the sky will fall in," said Schwartz. "Well Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands seem to doing just fine."
For a list of complete cities organzing rallies or other events, go to http://www.dontamend.com
"Intoning a mysterious 'natural law,' George precludes ALL Lesbians and Gays from entering into the civil contract of marriage, not just his own members," said Bob Schwartz, spokesperson for the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, the organizer of the protest. "George seeks to impose his religious beliefs on EVERYONE in society, whether of his religion, some other religion, or no religion. He backs the proposed anti-gay amendment to the US Constitution. He loudly protests when anyone calls him anti-gay, yet he led the fight to prevent passage of Illinois's Senate Bill 101, and thus prevented LGBT people from being protected from discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing."
Featured speaker at the rally will be Ms. Lynn Sprout, a downstate Illinois nurse who was fired from her job when she attempted to take time off to care for her terminally ill partner. Also speaking at the rally will be representatives of Equality Illinois, the statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people's lobby group, and the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, the city's leading LGBT direct action group.
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Pro-gay activists point out that only with equal marriage rights does a person have the right to medical decision-making for a loved one, parenting rights, access to insurance, inheritance protections including social security benefits, and immigration rights. If the proposed anti-gay amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed, it would be the first time, with the temporary exception of Prohibition, that the federal Constitution was amended to take away rights.
"The religious right pretends that if we win equal marriage rights, the sky will fall in," said Schwartz. "Well Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands seem to doing just fine."
For a list of complete cities organzing rallies or other events, go to http://www.dontamend.com