With polls showing a majority of Illinoisans now supporting the equal right of gays to marry, pro-gay forces will counter-demonstrate in two Chicago suburbs this Saturday against rallies organized by the “Illinois Family Institute,” a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group.
The competing demonstrations will both be at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 11 in front of two different Illinois Representatives’ offices: Rep. Anthony DeLuca at 195 W. Joe Orr Road in Chicago Heights, Ill., and Rep. Stephanie Kifwit at 1677 Montgomery Road in Aurora, Ill.
The pro-equal rights rally in Chicago Heights is being organized by the Gay Liberation Network and The Civil Rights Agenda, and the Aurora one is being organized by Fox Valley Pride.
“The Court is loathe to be seen as wildly out of step with public opinion, as such divergence tests its legitimacy as an unelected body with life-long appointments,” said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. “Our job in Illinois is to push through this bill in the current legislative session so that the Court will be less tempted to reject entirely the pro-equal rights side, or alternatively, serve up some muddy ‘compromise’ that fails to recognize that all people are created equal.”
For more information about Saturday’s protests, email the Gay Liberation Network at LGBTliberation@aol.com.