Anti-gay religious activists march in Chicago

A non-profit, Catholic group from Pennsylvania called The American TFP (Tradition, Family and Property) attracted about 100 people to their anti-marriage equality protest in downtown Chicago Saturday, June 8. About 20 pro-marriage equality protesters joined during the initial rally, and then some followed as the anti-gays marched south along Michigan Avenue.

A Pennsylvania man who only gave his first name as “Michael” said he was from the TFP and that people at the rally were from around the country, in town for what he said was a private event that was “none of your business,” when asked.

“It is a civic organization of Catholic inspiration,” Michael said of TFP, adding that it has some 10,000 members from different Catholic dioceses around the U.S., and was formed in 1973.

Before the event started, a few gay-rights activists confronted one lone Chicago anti-gay man posted in front of the Cultural Center, arguing about the Bible and separation of church and state. The anti-gays then gathered on the east side of Michigan Avenue, in front of Millennium Park. Police kept the sides apart, though some members argued back and forth before the march began.

Once the anti-marriage equality group began walking south, the pro-gay group, separated by police, kept to the back of the march, shouting for marriage equality.

Video of the protest shot by Tracy Baim.