President Obama issued a statement Saturday urging the Illinois General Assembly to legalize gay marriage as state lawmakers prepare to take up the issue this week.
White House spokesman Shin Inouye highlighted the rare nature of the president?s move, telling the Chicago Sun-Times the while the president ?does not weigh in on every measure being considered by state legislatures, he believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect.? He went on,
?As he has said, his personal view is that it?s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships, and want to marry, from doing so. Were the President still in the Illinois State Legislature, he would support this measure that would treat all Illinois couples equally.?
The act is called the ?Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,? and is sponsored by Democratic State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Democratic State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago). They plan to put the measure up for a January vote.
The Sun-Times notes, ?The practical impact of Obama urging his home state to legalize gay marriage is to prod?and give political cover to?reluctant Democrats from conservative suburban and Downstate districts.?
Illinois already has an effective civil union law, but opposition to marriage equality is expected to be strong among the ?Coalition to Protect Children and Marriage,? which includes the Illinois Family Institute, Abstinence and Marriage Partnership, Illinois Citizens for Life PAC, Lake County Right to Life and Concerned Christian Americans.
?
>> Follow Anjali Sareen (@AnjaliSareen) On Twitter
Source: http://www.mediaite.com/online/obama-urges-illinois-lawmakers-to-legalize-gay-marriage/
knicks coach encyclopedia britannica pi white lion mike d antoni resigns holes ncaa brackets 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment