Day of Decision rally to take place in downtown Champaign
Tue. May 26, 2009 12:00 AM
visit cudayofdecision.info for more information
photo credit // http://cudayofdecision.info
To be held at 5:30PM - 6:30PM on Main/Neil Street in front of Susan B. Anthony monument
Champaign, IL -
UPDATE (5/26, 12:00pm): This morning, the California Supreme Court upheld the anti-gay Proposition 8. Protest rally to be held at 5:30PM - 6:30PM on Main/Neil Street in front of the Susan B. Anthony monument.
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On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, a Day of Decision rally will take place in downtown Champaign at the intersection of Neil and Main/Church Streets in front of the Susan B. Anthony monument. This rally will be in solidarity with others nationwide on the day that the California Supreme Court rules on the same sex marriage ban, Proposition 8. The ruling will determine the status of 18,000 marriage licenses granted to same sex couples in California between June 2008 and November 2008. Proposition 8 passed by a narrow margin in November 2008 and amended the state constitution to read "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The ruling should be announced by 10 AM Pacific Time (12 noon Central Time). Should the California Supreme Court uphold Proposition 8, the rally will be a protest; but if Proposition 8 is overturned, it will be a celebration.
The actions are being coordinated nationally through the www.DayOfDecision.org website co-founded by Chicago gay activist Andy Thayer and pioneer national lesbian activist Robin Tyler of Los Angeles who, with her wife Diane Olson, was the first lesbian couple to file in the historic California Marriage Equality Case, and are petitioners (plaintiffs) in the case brought before the California Supreme Court to overturn Proposition 8.
The equal marriage movement is about love and civil rights. More than 30,000 same sex couples live in the state of Illinois; and that number only reflects those who have publicly disclosed their relationships on government surveys. Same sex couples live in every county in Illinois. Despite the fact that same sex couples are in loving, committed relationships, they are not entitled to the hundreds of benefits and privileges conferred by civil marriage. Same sex couples do not want special marriage rights - they want equal marriage.
Over forty years ago, the United States Supreme Court ruled that no state could prevent an interracial couple from marrying. Today the case of Loving v. Virginia is remembered as a landmark case for racial equality as well as the equal marriage movement. In 2007, original co-plaintiff Mildred Loving released a public statement in which she voiced her support for same sex marriage: "I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry."
On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, community members will gather at 5:30 PM in downtown Champaign in support of equal marriage rights for same sex couples. California is neither the beginning nor the end of the equal marriage movement. To date five states have legalized same sex marriage: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and Maine. Internationally same sex marriages are recognized and performed in seven countries, including Canada, South Africa, and Spain. Regardless of the California Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8, the rally in Champaign is in solidarity with a worldwide movement for love, civil rights, and marriage equality.
CU Day of Decision Facebook page
Other nearby rallies include:
CHICAGO - Rally will be held on Tuesday night, May 26th, at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Center on Halsted at 3656 North Halsted St.
PEORIA - Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 pm
Corner of University & Main Streets, by One World Cafe
SPRINGFIELD - Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 pm
Illinois Supreme Court Building, 202 E. Capitol, Springfield, IL
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On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, a Day of Decision rally will take place in downtown Champaign at the intersection of Neil and Main/Church Streets in front of the Susan B. Anthony monument. This rally will be in solidarity with others nationwide on the day that the California Supreme Court rules on the same sex marriage ban, Proposition 8. The ruling will determine the status of 18,000 marriage licenses granted to same sex couples in California between June 2008 and November 2008. Proposition 8 passed by a narrow margin in November 2008 and amended the state constitution to read "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The ruling should be announced by 10 AM Pacific Time (12 noon Central Time). Should the California Supreme Court uphold Proposition 8, the rally will be a protest; but if Proposition 8 is overturned, it will be a celebration.
The actions are being coordinated nationally through the www.DayOfDecision.org website co-founded by Chicago gay activist Andy Thayer and pioneer national lesbian activist Robin Tyler of Los Angeles who, with her wife Diane Olson, was the first lesbian couple to file in the historic California Marriage Equality Case, and are petitioners (plaintiffs) in the case brought before the California Supreme Court to overturn Proposition 8.
The equal marriage movement is about love and civil rights. More than 30,000 same sex couples live in the state of Illinois; and that number only reflects those who have publicly disclosed their relationships on government surveys. Same sex couples live in every county in Illinois. Despite the fact that same sex couples are in loving, committed relationships, they are not entitled to the hundreds of benefits and privileges conferred by civil marriage. Same sex couples do not want special marriage rights - they want equal marriage.
Over forty years ago, the United States Supreme Court ruled that no state could prevent an interracial couple from marrying. Today the case of Loving v. Virginia is remembered as a landmark case for racial equality as well as the equal marriage movement. In 2007, original co-plaintiff Mildred Loving released a public statement in which she voiced her support for same sex marriage: "I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry."
On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, community members will gather at 5:30 PM in downtown Champaign in support of equal marriage rights for same sex couples. California is neither the beginning nor the end of the equal marriage movement. To date five states have legalized same sex marriage: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and Maine. Internationally same sex marriages are recognized and performed in seven countries, including Canada, South Africa, and Spain. Regardless of the California Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8, the rally in Champaign is in solidarity with a worldwide movement for love, civil rights, and marriage equality.
CU Day of Decision Facebook page
Other nearby rallies include:
CHICAGO - Rally will be held on Tuesday night, May 26th, at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Center on Halsted at 3656 North Halsted St.
PEORIA - Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 pm
Corner of University & Main Streets, by One World Cafe
SPRINGFIELD - Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 pm
Illinois Supreme Court Building, 202 E. Capitol, Springfield, IL