Town Hall Meeting

With the debate over ‘gay marriage’ beginning to ignite the national political landscape, Chicago Gay and Lesbian leaders will lead a Town Hall Meeting on ‘What’s At Stake in the Marriage Debate’ at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15 at the 1st Methodist Temple, Pierce Hall, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago.

Speakers include:

— Robert Castillo, a member of the Advocacy Committee of Chicago’s Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Issues.

— Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network and National Rally Coordinator, DontAmend.com.

— Rev. Karen Hutt, Co-Pastor of the Church of the Open Door.

— Rick Garcia, Political Director, Equality Illinois.

— Camilla Taylor, Staff Attorney, Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund.

Anti-gay forces are proposing an amendment to the Constitution which not only would outlaw same-sex marriage, but would wipe out equal-rights legislation in many localities across the country. LGBT leaders charge that the proposed amendment would permanently cast gay people as second-class citizens and is a bridge to a much larger program. A look at leading opponents of equal marriage rights shows many of them have lengthy anti-civil rights agendas, including enforcement of ‘traditional marriage’ for women, opposition to choice, and intolerance of religious minorities.

For many LGBT people, denial of marriage means denial of healthcare, denial of adoption rights, denial of naturalization rights for non-citizen partners in same-sex relationships, denial of pension and Social Security benefits, and much more.

The Town Hall meeting is cosponsored by The Advocacy Committee of Chicago’s Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Issues, the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, Church of the Open Door and the Open Door Center for Community Change, DontAmend.com and Equality Illinois. E-mail CABNstopthehate@aol.com, visit www.CABN.org, call (888) 471-0874.