Chicago, IL -
Chicago mayor Richard Daley Wednesday said he has no problem with gay and lesbian couples marrying.
At a city hall news conference called to announce his appointments to two key administration posts Daley was asked about San Francisco where thousands of gay and lesbians couples have lined up for marriage licenses.
"A lot of people are opposed to it. So be it," Daley said. "But again, you have to point out the strength of that community -- they're doctors, they're lawyers, they're journalists, they're politicians, they're someone's son or daughter, they're someone's mother or father.
"They're parents, and I have been with them. They've adopted children. They have wonderful children. To me, we have to understand this is part and parcel of our families and our extended families."
"They love each other, just as much as anyone else. They believe that the benefits they don't have, they should have. And so I have a very open mind on it."
When he was asked about criticisms from conservative groups that same-sex marriages undermine traditional families, Daley said that it was divorce, not gays at the root of the problem.
"People have to look at their own lives and at their own marriages," he said. "Don't blame the gay, lesbian, transgender community, please. Don't blame them for it."
The mayor's comments were welcomed by gay activists in the city.
"Once again, Mayor Daley has recognized that gay people are part of the fabric of our society and are entitled to fair and equal treatment under the law," said Rick Garcia, political director of Equality Illinois. "We welcome Mayor Daley's support and we pray that other elected officials will follow him in standing up and speaking out for fairness and decency."
The mayor said any decision on issuing marriage licenses in Chicago to same-sex couples would be made by County Clerk David Orr, not the city. Last October it established a Domestic Partnership Registry. Orr was not available for comment.
by Steph Smith
365Gay.com Newscenter
Chicago Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
Related Article: Daley Eventually Expects Gay Marriage to Be Allowed in Chicago
At a city hall news conference called to announce his appointments to two key administration posts Daley was asked about San Francisco where thousands of gay and lesbians couples have lined up for marriage licenses.
"A lot of people are opposed to it. So be it," Daley said. "But again, you have to point out the strength of that community -- they're doctors, they're lawyers, they're journalists, they're politicians, they're someone's son or daughter, they're someone's mother or father.
"They're parents, and I have been with them. They've adopted children. They have wonderful children. To me, we have to understand this is part and parcel of our families and our extended families."
"They love each other, just as much as anyone else. They believe that the benefits they don't have, they should have. And so I have a very open mind on it."
When he was asked about criticisms from conservative groups that same-sex marriages undermine traditional families, Daley said that it was divorce, not gays at the root of the problem.
"People have to look at their own lives and at their own marriages," he said. "Don't blame the gay, lesbian, transgender community, please. Don't blame them for it."
The mayor's comments were welcomed by gay activists in the city.
"Once again, Mayor Daley has recognized that gay people are part of the fabric of our society and are entitled to fair and equal treatment under the law," said Rick Garcia, political director of Equality Illinois. "We welcome Mayor Daley's support and we pray that other elected officials will follow him in standing up and speaking out for fairness and decency."
The mayor said any decision on issuing marriage licenses in Chicago to same-sex couples would be made by County Clerk David Orr, not the city. Last October it established a Domestic Partnership Registry. Orr was not available for comment.
by Steph Smith
365Gay.com Newscenter
Chicago Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
Related Article: Daley Eventually Expects Gay Marriage to Be Allowed in Chicago
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
