a small, yet strong, group marched in joliet on saturday
photo credit // ryan kolodziej
Joliet, IL -
Local activists from Chicago and the Joliet area held a gay rights rally in Joliet on Saturday in support of local, state, and federal changes that would ensure the civil rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender-identified (LGBT) citizens.
The Joliet rally, co-sponsored by Joliet's Community Alliance and Action Network and Chicago's Gay Liberation Network, was much like the "Meet in the Middle" anti-Prop 8 rally in Fresno, California, in May.
At Saturday's event, organizers called on the Obama administration to repeal the Defense Against Marriage Act and Don't Ask Don't Tell, and for Congress to pass a strong, inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. They also called upon Illinois representatives such as Tom Cross and Emily Klunk-McAsey to support SB1716, the bill that would grant some protections for same-sex couples in the form of civil unions.
The rally and march through downtown Joliet, from the CAAN Community Center to City Hall, also concentrated on the local needs of LGBT people in Joliet. Speakers addressed such issues as safe schools, homophobia, and transphobia in the Joliet-area.
Joliet, which is located about 45 miles southwest of Chicago, was selected as the rally location to "take the equal rights message to more conservative sections of Illinois where the pro-gay message isn't often heard."
The Joliet rally, co-sponsored by Joliet's Community Alliance and Action Network and Chicago's Gay Liberation Network, was much like the "Meet in the Middle" anti-Prop 8 rally in Fresno, California, in May.
At Saturday's event, organizers called on the Obama administration to repeal the Defense Against Marriage Act and Don't Ask Don't Tell, and for Congress to pass a strong, inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. They also called upon Illinois representatives such as Tom Cross and Emily Klunk-McAsey to support SB1716, the bill that would grant some protections for same-sex couples in the form of civil unions.
The rally and march through downtown Joliet, from the CAAN Community Center to City Hall, also concentrated on the local needs of LGBT people in Joliet. Speakers addressed such issues as safe schools, homophobia, and transphobia in the Joliet-area.
Joliet, which is located about 45 miles southwest of Chicago, was selected as the rally location to "take the equal rights message to more conservative sections of Illinois where the pro-gay message isn't often heard."
Photos: Rally photo coverage by Ryan Kolodziej. (View Photos)
