No same-sex marriage vote until November: ‘I’ve never been sadder,’ sponsor says

[brooklynite]

Source: Sun-Times


SPRINGFIELD — Gay and lesbian couples who want to legally marry in Illinois willl have to wait.

His voice breaking with emotion, state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tearfully said Friday that he will not call for a vote his bill legalizing same-sex marriage before the session adjourns in a few hours.

“As chief sponsor of this legislation, decisions surrounding the legislation are mine and mine alone. Several of my colleages have indicated they’d not be willing to cast a vote on this bill today, Harris said shortly after 7 p.m.

“And I’ve never been sadder to accept this request, but I have to keep my eye, as we all must, on the ultimate prize. They’ve asked for time to go back to their districts, talk to their constituents and reach out to their minds and hearts and have told me they’ll return in November with their word that they’re prepared to support this legislation.


Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/20462451-761/no-same-sex-marriage-vote-until-november-ive-never-been-sadder-sponsor-says.html

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Then his colleagues deserve to be told they won't be supported in their next election.

[MNBrewer]

1. May the SCOTUS make it irrelevant!

Please.

[dsc]

2. gay Illinoisians should withhold any and all donations that might go to the Dems who told us to

fuck off by doing this. The money should be used to fund primary challenges to each and every one of them. on edit to clarify those who refused to vote for this bill are who I am talking about.

[MNBrewer]

3. That info might be difficult to come by.

[dsc]

4. oh the sun times helped us out

http://www.suntimes.com/news/20236151-505/black-illinois-house-members-split-on-gay-marriage-bill-sun-times-survey-finds.html

[MNBrewer]

5. oh THIS will be fun

*sigh*

[dsc]

6. I think the headline could have been a bit fairer

but they give us the names of those on the record in favor, those on the record opposed, and those leaning.

[MNBrewer]

7. Perhaps my state Senator could give them some encouragement

http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=15317

He's newly elected to the Senate, after 2 terms in the House. Personally door knocked at my house and vowed to work for marriage equality. And it happened.

[LonePirate]

8. I'm amazed how elected officials denied marriage rights in the past now deny others that same right

Every Democrat across the country should be ashamed of every single Democrat in the Illinois House who refused to support this bill.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Rev James Meeks has been doing mass robo hate calls against equality

He's another one of Obama's Spiritual mentors, a delegate in 2008 in Denver no less. Chew on that, moderately and to the center.

[Indyfan53]

10. There is still hope.

Lambda Legal is suing the state to lift the unconstitutional ban on gay marriage. The bill will also be brought back in November.

In the mean time, my fellow LGBT rights activists need to rally and get active. We need to call out the religious right-wingers who intimidated those who supported SB10. We need to fight them.

Contact every group that opposed the bill and shame them. Boycott any business that supports them. Send them letters, telling them how their oppression towards the gay community is Hitler-esque and they are nothing but fascist scum who should be humiliated.

We also must put more pressure on our state representatives to pass the bill. Don't use this as an excuse to give up on voting. Sitting out of elections is as bad as voting republican.

Double your efforts. I know I will.

[mopinko]

11. please consider a small contribution to those who fought on the right side.

i have a great rep- kelly cassidy. she worked so hard for this, and would have been one of the first in line to get married. right now she should be about home from springfield. i think it was probably one of the longest, saddest drives of her life.
these folks, greg harris, sara feigenholtz, kelly, all the rest, would be so cheered by a little money bomb.
and we know money is the only language the other side speaks.