Help fighting the anti-marriage amendment
Help fighting the anti-marriage amendment
Letters to the Editor
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
Pride Month is here, and there are a million and one exciting events to occupy the community—the pre-parade parties, the post-parade parties, the during-the-parade parties, the parade itself, the Gay Games, the street fests, the dances, the concerts and on and on. What a glorious time to be a GLBT person in Illinois, or so it would seem.
However, the Illinois Family Institute and other right-wing organizations have some less-than-exciting plans in store. These groups turned in over 300,000 petition signatures to have an advisory referendum placed on the Illinois ballot in November seeking to ban same-sex marriage. The referendum would encourage legislators to move forward with a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. Even if you personally are not interested in marrying, such an amendment could have far-reaching ramifications, from denying recognition of civil unions to denying domestic partner benefits to denying any sort of legal recognition of same-sex relationships, period.
Fair Illinois is a group that has quickly set up operations at 3342 N. Halsted, on the third floor, in the hopes of stopping this pernicious referendum. They’re examining petition signatures in the hopes of finding enough invalid ones to prevent it from getting on the ballot.
In order to find these invalid signatures, volunteers are needed—many, many volunteers. Today, when we showed up to volunteer for a few hours, we were surprised and disheartened to see that only half the available computers were being utilized. There is no way this challenge can succeed unless enough people are willing to commit to a few hours to get the job done.
So, please, please consider devoting some time to this very important cause. The actual checking of signatures is relatively simple, the accommodations are pleasant and there are even snacks and cold drinks for volunteers. Best of all, you will feel good having done something to be really proud of during Pride Month!
To volunteer, contact Matt at www.fairillinois.org or at (773) 724-0071.
Char and John Cepek
Indian Head Park, Illinois
Letters to the Editor
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
Pride Month is here, and there are a million and one exciting events to occupy the community—the pre-parade parties, the post-parade parties, the during-the-parade parties, the parade itself, the Gay Games, the street fests, the dances, the concerts and on and on. What a glorious time to be a GLBT person in Illinois, or so it would seem.
However, the Illinois Family Institute and other right-wing organizations have some less-than-exciting plans in store. These groups turned in over 300,000 petition signatures to have an advisory referendum placed on the Illinois ballot in November seeking to ban same-sex marriage. The referendum would encourage legislators to move forward with a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. Even if you personally are not interested in marrying, such an amendment could have far-reaching ramifications, from denying recognition of civil unions to denying domestic partner benefits to denying any sort of legal recognition of same-sex relationships, period.
Fair Illinois is a group that has quickly set up operations at 3342 N. Halsted, on the third floor, in the hopes of stopping this pernicious referendum. They’re examining petition signatures in the hopes of finding enough invalid ones to prevent it from getting on the ballot.
In order to find these invalid signatures, volunteers are needed—many, many volunteers. Today, when we showed up to volunteer for a few hours, we were surprised and disheartened to see that only half the available computers were being utilized. There is no way this challenge can succeed unless enough people are willing to commit to a few hours to get the job done.
So, please, please consider devoting some time to this very important cause. The actual checking of signatures is relatively simple, the accommodations are pleasant and there are even snacks and cold drinks for volunteers. Best of all, you will feel good having done something to be really proud of during Pride Month!
To volunteer, contact Matt at www.fairillinois.org or at (773) 724-0071.
Char and John Cepek
Indian Head Park, Illinois
posted by Carlos T Mock at 8:38 PM
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