Marriage Equality now legal in the USA, and how we got there

The long path to legalizing marriage equality across the USA and its territories ended on June 26th, 2015, when the Supreme Court handed down the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling 5-4 in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. 

Here's how the SCOTUS judges ruled on Obergefell:

#SCOTUS rules in favor of marriage equality in historic 5-4 decision | The Judges and how they ruled: http://t.co/LID3If3Wt9 via @msnbc

— Justin Gibson (@JGibsonDem) June 26, 2015

The day was filled with celebration for equal marriage supporters (including me), while opponents were fuming mad. 

The path to marriage equality in the USA:
10.06.1968, MCC: At a time when anti-LGBTQ sentiments were prevalent across Christianity in the USA, the Metropolitian Community Church was founded, with its 1st church in Huntington Park, California.

06.28.1969, New York State: The Stonewall Riots, which begun the seeds for LGBT rights activism in the USA.

05.18.1970, Minnesota: Jack Baker and Michael McConnell were denied a marriage license in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

10.15.1971, Baker v. Nelson: SCOTUS ruled 9-0 to uphold the ban on same-sex marriage licenses in Minnesota (and elsewhere).

01.01.1973, Maryland: Maryland was the 1st state to ban marriage equality. 

11.07.1978, California: The Briggs Initiative, which would have banned the state's public school teachers from supporting LGBTQ rights and LGBTQ teachers, was rejected by voters 58%-42%. 

11.27.1978, California: San Francisco mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk (the first openly gay elected official in California) were assassinated. 

06.30.1986, Bowers v. Hardwick: A 5-4 decision that upheld sodomy bans against homosexuals, which got overturned in 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas.

10.20.1991, Fox: Roc episode "Can't Help Loving That Man" was the 1st same-sex wedding shown on US television.

11.03.1992, Colorado: In Colorado, voters passed Amendment 2 53%-47%, an amendment opposing protection of sexual orientation. The law was later overturned in 1996 by SCOTUS in Romer v. Evans.

02.28.1994, USA: Don't Ask, Don't Tell became law.

05.20.1996, Romer v. Evans: The 6-3 ruling that really got the ball rolling on LGBTQ rights. The ruling invalidated Colorado's Amendment 2 that was passed in 1992.

09.21.1996, USA: President Bill Clinton signs Defense of Marriage Act into law. The law was later struck down in 2013.

11.03.1998, Two States: Hawaii and Alaska were the 1st states to pass constitutional bans on marriage equality.

11.07.2000, Nebraska: Nebraska became the 1st state to pass a constitutional ban on marriage equality and civil unions or other similar same-sex unions. 
Although Al Gore won the majority of electoral votes, George W. Bush was elected (or awarded) President thanks to SCOTUS's Bush v. Gore verdict.

06.26.2003, Lawrence v. Texas: A 6-3 decision that overturned the 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick ruling and sodomy bans still in effect at that time were no longer law.

11.18.2003, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health: Massachusetts becomes the 1st state to have marriage equality, via its Supreme Court. On May 17th, 2004, it became official.

08.03.2004, Missouri: Missouri passed a constitutional ban on marriage equality.

11.02.2004, Multiple States: As Bush 43 won re-election, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah, and Oregon all banned marriage equality at the ballot boxes.

07.04.2005, UCC: The United Church of Christ became the 1st mainline Christian denomination to allow same-sex marriages to be conducted in their churches. NOTE: Not all UCC churches allow this.

11.07.2006, Multiple States: Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin ban marriage equality at the ballot boxes.

11.07.2006, Arizona: Arizona was the 1st state to reject a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

11.04.2008, Multiple States: As President Obama won the election, three states (Arizona, California, and Florida) passes bans on marriage equality.

11.04.2008, California: Prop 8 passed by the voters, resulting in protests for days across the nation. The proposition was overturned in 2013 by SCOTUS.

04.07.2009, Vermont: Vermont became the 1st state to pass marriage equality via legislative means after a veto override.

06.03.2009, New Hampshire: The state of New Hampshire is the 2nd state to pass marriage equality legislatively (and 1st without a veto override).

08.21.2009, ELCA: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America allows same-sex marriages in its churches. NOTE: Not all ELCA churches allow this.

11.03.2009, Maine: The voters of Maine passes a referendum overturning marriage equality. Maine later got marriage equality restored in 2012.

12.18.2009, DC: The District of Columbia allows marriage equality. It took effect on 03.03.2010.

08.11.2010, CNN Poll: The 1st poll to show marriage equality support at 50%+/.

12.15.2010, US House: The US House voted to repeal DADT.

12.18.2010, US Senate: The US Senate voted to repeal DADT. The repeal takes effect on 09.20.2011.

02.23.2011, USA: President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder announced that they will no longer uphold DOMA.

05.06.2012, USA:  Joe Biden became the 1st sitting Vice President to endorse marriage equality. A couple of days later, his ticketmate (re-)endorsed marriage equality.

05.08.2012, North Carolina: North Carolina became the final state to pass a constitutional ban on marriage equality.

05.09.2012, USA: President Barack Obama became the 1st sitting President to endorse marriage equality. By doing so, he reverted back to his 1996-era position on this issue. 

09.04.2012, Democratic Party: The Democratic Party became the 1st major party to endorse marriage equality. 

11.06.2012, Multiple States: The 1st states to pass/uphold marriage equality via referendum were Maine, Maryland, and Washington. Minnesota rejected a constitutional ban on marriage equality. President Obama was re-elected.

02.14.2013, Illinois: Illinois State Senate votes to legalize marriage equality.

03.18.2013, USA: Hillary Clinton endorses marriage equality, reversing her earlier opposition to the topic.

04.04.2013, US Senate: Sen. Bill Nelson (D)'s endorsement of marriage equality puts the US Senate into a pro-marriage equality majority. That majority was later broken when the GOP took control in January 2015, after a massive wave in November 2014.

06.26.2013, United States v. Windsor: A 5-4 ruling that struck down Section 3 of DOMA.

06.26.2013, Hollingsworth v. Perry: On the same day as DOMA being struck down, California's Prop 8 has been invalidated and overturned in a 5-4 decision.

11.05.2013, Illinois: SB10 passes the House and sent back to the Senate because of amendment changes. It also passed the Senate, thus sending the bill to Gov. Pat Quinn.

11.20.2013, Illinois: Gov. Quinn signs SB10 into law. Law takes effect on 06.01.2014. Several counties started earlier.

04.28.2014, North Carolina: General Synod of the United Church of Christ v. Cooper, the first lawsuit from a religious denomination opposing marriage equality bans. The ban was struck down on 10.10.2014.

06.19.2014, PC(USA): The PC(USA) allows same-sex marriages in its churches. The vote was sent to its presbyteries for final approval. NOTE: Not all PC(USA) churches allow this.

11.05.2014, Missouri: Just a few weeks before the Darren Wilson Grand Jury decision came down, Missouri's same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional.

01.16.2015, SCOTUS: SCOTUS took four marriage cases from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee (which consists of the 6th Circuit Court), and consolidates it into one case known as Obergefell v. Hodges.

03.17.2015, PC(USA): With the Presbytery of the Palisades voting to approve of marriage equality, the PC(USA) officially allows marriage equality.

06.26.2015, Obergefell v. Hodges: A 5-4 decision granting marriage equality to all 50 states, DC, and the territories of the USA.

07.01.2015, Episcopal Church: Just a few days after the SCOTUS verdict, the Episcopal Church allows same-sex marriages in its churches.  NOTE: Not all Episcopal churches allow this.


That's been your long path to the verdict.

A BIG ruling coming up at SCOTUS: Marriage equality could be legalized nationwide

In about a week or less from now (most likely on June 29th), the Supreme Court will make a massive ruling that will impact our nation's history. The case up at the court is Obergefell v. Hodges, a case that will decide the fate of marriage equality in the USA. If the ruling goes in favor of Obergefell, then same-sex marriage will be legal across this great nation. 

SCOTUSBlog: 

Issue: 1) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex? 2) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?

My Letter To The Editor in the BND:

Sometime this month (most likely either June 29 or June 30), the Supreme Court will decide on the fate of marriage equality in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, as to whether same-sex marriage should be legalized nationwide. I believe that the case should be a win for equal marriage across this great country of ours. 

My prediction will be 6-3 in favor of Obergefell when they decide the ruling, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy ruling in favor alongside the four liberal-leaning judges.

JUSTIN GIBSON
GRANITE CITY

The three ways Obergefell v. Hodges could be decided at SCOTUS, via Human Rights Campaign (HRC):

For the sake of our nation's history and traditions, I hope the SCOTUS rules in favor of legalizing such marriages (outlined in Outcome 1) nationwide, and God will bless this nation if that is the case. It is high time we pray and talk about this case! May we see the day that equal marriages becomes legal across these lands of America! 

Just because the SCOTUS will likely rule in favor of marriage equality, it means that the fight for other LGBTQ rights will continue. It does NOT stop at equal marriage!

#LoveCantWait! #LoveMustWin! #LoveIsLove! 


My predictions: 6-3, in favor of Obergefell (Roberts, Kennedy, + 4 Liberal Judges voting to allow marriage equality; Scalia, Alito, and Thomas dissenting)

Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby: If SCOTUS rules in favor of Hobby Lobby, scary times are coming

Before the end of this month, the Supreme Court will make a critical decision on the fate of the HHS Mandate in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby. If the Court rules in favor of Hobby Lobby, it will be very scary indeed on women's health care and LGBTQ issues, giving the right carte blanche to discriminate for their Religious Right agenda.

In a major dose of hypocrisy for Hobby Lobby, the company was for birth control before they flipped against it in 2012.

I hope and pray that SCOTUS rules in favor of Sebelius when they decide Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby, most likely on either June 26th or June 30th.
When the decision comes, I will say the ruling goes 5-4 in either direction.

Regardless of how the outcome goes, please boycott Hobby Lobby and shop elsewhere for arts and crafts!

 Also, this case at SCOTUS won't be the last HHS Mandate-related case to make it to the highest court of America.

Tomorrow will be the biggest day in the history of LGBTQ rights in America

Tomorrow, at 10:00AM EDT/9:00AM CDT/7:00AM PDT, the Supreme Court of the United States will decide the fate of two key LGBTQ rights/marriage equality cases: California's Prop 8 (Hollingsworth v. Perry) and DOMA (United States v. Windsor).


How I realistically view what SCOTUS will rule on the two cases: DOMA is expected to get buried in the trashcan (i.e. overturned), while Prop 8 will either be struck down in some fashion (California-only being most likely) or get punted.

Let's hope and pray that DOMA and Prop 8 are both fully off the books!!!

URGENT announcement: This concerns my future as a member of Grace Baptist

Grace Baptist Church, Granite City, IL.

I really, really, really do NOT want to be typing about this issue regarding my future membership at my church, Grace Baptist Church... and I have no choice but to do so. The concern is that my church is proposing a Statement on Marriage and Sexuality that will be voted on in the 06.12.2013 business meeting, designed primarily to silence and/or eject me and any other Democrats/LGBTQ rights/pro-reproductive choicers out of the church. As I personally believe that abortion, cohabitation, same-sex marriage, and homosexuality are not sins, this looks like the end of Grace Baptist membership for me, mostly due to the power grab proposal by the GBC higher ups. The proposal will make me end my volunteering opportunities at GBC.

I started attending back in 2000 when my Grandma switched membership from Suburban Baptist Church.
Not long after my Grandma couldn't drive anymore, I relied on the strong and robust bus ministry to take me to and from there. If it weren't for them, I would likely be long from Grace. Also, I gained (and lost) friends during my 12.5 years at Grace Baptist. With that being said, there were bumps in the road along the way, such as attacks on my Christianity and liberalism in later years (primarily from Ron Martin), especially for endorsing President Obama and supporting abortion rights and same-sex marriage.


How I became pro-choice and pro-marriage equality, which ties into this a lot: I'd say sometime between the election of Obama in 2008 and being in Ms. Ames' economics class and the passage of the Hate Crimes Law in 2009 for the latter. For the former, it was around the time that Dr. Tiller got killed that changed my views on abortion from leaning personally pro-life but not for restrictive abortion laws to pro-choice and even moreso recently. However, I am still opposed to assisted suicide.

There were lots of changes during that period, including:

• Bro. Steve Trask became music director in 2001. 
• realignment of the children's classes back in 2002 to coincide with the then-realignment of K-5 Elementary, 6-8 MS, 9-12 HS at GCSD9. (now changed to K-4 Elementary, 5-6 Intermediate, 7-8 Middle/Junior High, 9-12 HS at GCSD9)
• Bro. John Oswald named associate pastor in 2004. 
• the move to a new auditorium (from the old sanctuary, which is the current youth/multipurpose room) in 2005.
• Bro. Ben Towell named youth director in 2005.
• the abolishment of choir robes somewhere shortly after the new auditorium was completed.
• In 2006, the youth department moved to the old sanctuary.
• In October 2008, the church went to 2 Sunday services/2 Sunday Schools (9:15 and 10:45AM).
• October 2009 was the big Awakening event.
• former pastor Bro. John Gamblin resigned during the middle of the St. Louis Cardinals World Series run in October 2011.
• Thom and Rosie Wells quit the bus ministry on a regular basis in February 2012. They both still sub on Sunday Mornings and at VBS when warranted. 
• Weekly bus breakfasts were abolished in April 2012.
• associate pastor Bro. John Oswald left in August 2012. 
• The reversion back to the single Sunday morning worship service (10:45)/Sunday School (9:15) at the start of 2013.
• Bro. Daniel Wilson voted in on May 5th, 2013 and officially will take over on June 30th, 2013. 

What the odious anti-religious and anti-LGBTQ rights bill really does:

The statement that says "...It is imperative that all persons employed by the Church in ANY capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality conduct themselves accordingly" is the biggest reason why I am considering leaving Grace Baptist Church. It means that if the proposal passes, bye-bye VBS volunteering like I did the past two years, as I do NOT intend to follow the new M&S statement.



Why I will decide to leave Grace Baptist?

• The theological and political differences are already distant as it is between me and other members and are too great to overcome.
• I have nearly came close to being forced out of there due to Ronald Martin's blatant lies about me and his theology. 
• The church's lobbying efforts (albeit not very intense) to defeat and/or stall marriage equality in Illinois and at the Supreme Court. 
• Attacks on abortion rights, most infamously during the Super Bowl 2013 sermon by Interim Pastor Charley Westbrook. 

What to do after my likely leave from Grace? I will be headed to a new church that is at least somewhat more in line with my theological and political viewpoints, and it will be St. John UCC in Granite City. And that may start after my vacation on the last weekend of June.



If this proposal takes effect immediately, then the last Sunday I'll be at Grace as a regular attender will be either on 06.16 or 06.23 (when Pastor Daniel Wilson will preach). This is NOT a joke at all. That also means the end of posting announcements on the group's facebook page. In addition, my fantasy football career with the church is in great peril.
UPDATE: I am sticking with Grace until at least August or until expulsion.


I urge all the congregants to vote NAY on Wednesday night, 06.12.2013, and plan on showing up to vote NO on this idea, although the idea will pass by a big margin sadly. Even if I get expelled for voting NAY on this idea, it is worth the price.

A very sad day for Illinois and LGBTQ rights supporters: marriage equality punted... for now

As you may have known last night, the Illinois House of Representatives gutlessly decided NOT to vote on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (IL SB10), which was the bill that would've made Illinois the 13th state to legalize marriage equality. This was a bill that I personally thought was going to pass (or at least voted on). Alas, it wasn't.

As a result, I am really upset at the Illinois House and at House Speaker Michael Madigan especially for allowing a non-vote to happen. Also, ANY Democrat that votes NO to marriage equality in the fall session should get a primary challenger!

The viciously homophobic Illinois Family Institute declared last night's non-vote a "victory for 'traditional marriage'":

The bill to legalize same-sex “marriage” has failed to advance in the Illinois House before lawmakers adjourned for the summer. In a bit of political theater, the bill’s sponsor, homosexual activist Greg Harris (D-Chicago) wept as he stood on the House floor to announce that he didn’t have the votes to pass the bill. In a liberal state like Illinois, this is a truly remarkable victory. 

As Christians we know that all good things are gifts from God, and the retention of sexual complementarity in the government’s definition of marriage is a very good thing. The failure of this bill is a good thing for children, for parental rights, for religious liberty, for the common good, and for truth. 

Despite what the bill’s supporters claim in a dishonest attempt to stigmatize supporters of natural marriage, the retention of sexual complementarity in the legal definition of marriage bears no kinship to bans on interracial marriage. Nor does it signify injustice to those who seek to marry someone of the same sex. The failure of this bill signifies that marriage has a nature which the government merely recognizes and regulates, central to which is sexual complementarity. 

We should praise and thank God for this victory in an ever-expanding war on truth, and then redouble our efforts to preserve true marriage. Those who have worked so hard deserve a moment to celebrate and rest—but not for long. Representative Harris has promised to bring this bill back in the Fall Veto Session.

Dear IFI, you may be celebrating in the short-term, but just you wait until the SCOTUS verdicts on DOMA and/or Prop 8 go against your side and the Illinois legislatures vote again on this issue in November, you won't be celebrating then. This non-vote on IL SB10 in the house is NOT a "victory" at all, it is just a delay of the game or even a defeat.

Homophobic cranks at the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) also gloated last night's non-vote in the House as a "victory."
NOM:

Washington, DC — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today celebrated the failure of legislation to come to a vote late this evening in Illinois seeking to redefine marriage, thus preserving marriage in the state as the union of one man and one woman. The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Greg Harris, announced this evening that he did not have the votes to pass the measure and would not bring the legislation to a vote. Assuming this is the case, the bill is thus dead until the fall when the Legislature reconvenes for a veto session. 

"This effort to redefine marriage in Illinois was one of the most fiercely contested legislative battles in the country this year," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "This is a great victory for our allies and supporters, as well as Illinois families who have worked tirelessly with us to preserve marriage in Illinois. We are gratified that our collective hard work has paid off in this stunning victory." 

"So much for the inevitability of gay marriage," said Brian Brown. "With a coalition that included strong support from the African American community as well as so many others throughout the state, we did what nobody in the intelligentsia thought was possible. This is a huge victory at a pivotal time, and totally undercuts the lie that somehow same-sex marriage is inevitable."

What you're really doing, NOM, is that you're only delaying the inevitable passage of marriage equality in the state.


But here's the good news: When the Fall Veto Session resumes, hopefully we'll get marriage equality passed and done right!! Pray for it to be passed this fall!!!


Chicago Phoenix:

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois gay and lesbian couples will not wake up to the promise of full marriage equality on Saturday. 

In a devastating and unexpected blow to marriage equality supporters Friday, the sponsor of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage was unable to call the measure up for vote before time ran out on the legislative session. 

The sudden and resounding defeat for marriage proponents ends an intense, emotional, and at times nasty months-long debate over the issue in the Spring legislative session, but hope remains for another shot in the November veto session. 

All of that was felt in the House chamber when Rep. Greg Harris, the bill’s sponsor stood to speak minutes before adjournment.
The entire room fell silent. 

Harris rose from his chair, and in a tearful message to the Illinois House, said he was unable to convince enough of his fellow lawmakers and achieve a 60-vote majority required to pass the bill. Those assembled in the gallery erupted, shouting “Call the vote!” But Harris stood, momentarily crippled by the response, and then continued to explain.
The state General Assembly will return for the veto session later this year.

UPDATE (06.01.2013): Illinois same-sex marriage bill gets a reprieve, will be considered anytime before August 31st, per the Illinois Observer..

(Springfield, IL) – Insider: The Illinois same sex marriage bill had its deadline date for approval extended into the summer. 

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) acted quietly on Friday night before the House adjourned to extend the bill’s deadline for approval until August 31. 

State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) told a packed House chamber on Friday evening that he had to put off a vote on the proposal until November. 

However, were Governor Pat Quinn to call lawmakers back to Springfield in the summer for a special session to address pension reform, which also was left without resolution, he could include Senate Bill 10 in a special session proclamation. 

If Quinn declines to include marriage equality in any order to lawmakers to return to Springfield, Madigan could call a House special session of his own at the same time to take up the legislation, an insider noted. 

Nevertheless, during a summer session, House lawmakers would need to amend the bill and change the effective date from “30 days” from a gubernatorial signature to January 1 in order to avoid a 3/5th or 71 vote requirement, an insurmountable hurdle.
Amending the bill’s effective date would also require an Illinois Senate vote to concur with such a change.

That is at least some good news.



More on the IL marriage equality fight, see the #IL4M tag on Justin's Political Corner: http://justinspoliticalcorner.tumblr.com/tagged/IL4M


Twitter/Instagram hashtags in support of IL SB10: #IL4M, #ILove, #ILequality, #ILSB10, #FightBackIL

Today is the day that House will take up Illinois Marriage Equality bill IL SB10

Today's the big day in the House for the fate of IL SB10, the marriage equality bill. Please pray for its passage!

If it passes, we're the 13th state (14th including DC) to pass marriage equality, making for exciting times for our state.

I personally hope and pray that same-sex marriage is legalized in my home state, and I urge you to call and/or email your Representative to tell that person to vote YES on IL SB10! 

More on the IL marriage equality fight, see the #IL4M tag on Justin's Political Corner: http://justinspoliticalcorner.tumblr.com/tagged/IL4M


Twitter/Instagram hashtags in support of IL SB10: #IL4M, #ILove, #ILequality, #ILSB10

Pray that the Illinois House passes Marriage Equality this week, making it the 13th state to do so

In the next few days prior to May 31st-- possibly as soon as today in the Illinois House of Representatives-- a vote on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (aka IL SB10) will occur, and if it passes, it will make Illinois the 13th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

ICYMI on my past editorials on marriage equality to the BND:
01.30.2013, before the Senate vote:

With the pending legalization of same-sex marriage coming to the Land of Lincoln via the Illinois General Assembly, let’s remember some facts:

•  Same-sex marriage legalization benefits the economy.

• Marriage is between two human adults, whether it is between a man and a woman, woman and woman, or man and man.

• It will not lead to people marrying their cats, dogs, turtles, computers or any other non-human(s).

• Unlike the current civil unions law, same-sex couples will have full benefits and rights.

• Despite the fearmongering from the Illinois Family Institute and other religious right conservative interest groups, religious freedoms will not be weakened if this bill passes.

I think it’s long past time to make Illinois the tenth state to legalize same-sex marriage 

.
Justin Gibson
Granite City

03.05.2013, while still in limbo between the House Committee vote and the full House vote:

On Valentine’s Day, The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (SB10) passed 34-21-2-2 in the Illinois Senate. And on Tuesday night before 10:30 p.m., the House Executive Committee voted 6-5 to send it to the full House for its vote, which will most likely occur within the next two weeks.

As SB10 gets closer to a full vote in the Illinois House of Representatives, it is important to consider the benefits of allowing same-sex marriage in Illinois (a letter that I wrote to this paper in more detail that was featured in the Jan. 30 edition).

I want to add more points about this issue:
* As a Christian who believes in religious freedom and attends church every Sunday, it is both the right thing and the Christian thing to endorse this bill’s passage because of its religious freedom protections, even if the majority of the attenders of my church (Grace Baptist Church in Granite City) oppose the bill.

* As a resident of Illinois, it is the smart thing to pass the bill in support of giving couples who love each other — irrespective of sexual orientation — the freedom to marry whoever they choose. 

* When same-sex marriage finally becomes the law here in the Land of Lincoln, it will improve the Supreme Court’s chances of ruling in favor of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and/or California’s Proposition 8 that was passed in 2008.
Contact your state representative to vote “yes” on SB10.

Justin Gibson
Granite City

That second letter hit home regarding religious freedom and my support of IL SB10.

The Illinois GOP decided to make Pat Brady resign earlier this month due to his support of marriage equality.

MSNBC:

Embroiled in an intraparty fight over his support for gay marriage, Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady stepped down on Tuesday as leader of the state party.
Brady has been facing heat from the more conservative wing of his party for months, ever since he announced his support for same sex marriage legislation before the state legislature earlier this year.

The new head of the ILGOP will very likely be a far-right IFI-type loon running it.


I personally hope and pray that same-sex marriage is legalized in my home state, and I urge you to call and/or email your Representative to tell that person to vote YES on IL SB10! 

More on the IL marriage equality fight, see the #IL4M tag on Justin's Political Corner: http://justinspoliticalcorner.tumblr.com/tagged/IL4M


Twitter/Instagram hashtags in support of IL SB10: #IL4M, #ILove, #ILequality, #ILSB10

Tomorrow's the big day in Illinois: marriage equality will be voted on in the State Senate

Tomorrow, the Illinois State Senate will vote to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill in question is IL SB 10, known as the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. Give thanks to Equality Illinois, Lambda Legal, and Illinois Unites For Marriage for leading the state down the path to making the Land of Lincoln the 10th state to legalize marriage equality.

Illinois Republican Party Chair Pat Brady supports IL SB10, which has led to a huge backlash from the social conservative wing of the ILGOP over this issue-- enough for calls to step down. He has stood his ground thus far.

On the anti-marriage equality side: Next Wednesday, the far-right hate group Illinois Family Institute (IFI) is organizing "Defend Marriage Lobby  Day," or really "Defend Homophobia Day."

Details of tomorrow's vote on HuffPo:

The Illinois Senate on Thursday is expected to advance a bill legalizing same-sex marriage to a vote in the state House of Representatives, the last remaining obstacle to marriage equality in the land of Lincoln. 

The historic vote could come as early as 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the Windy City Times, and marriage equality proponents are very confident in their odds. 

The state House of Representatives is considered to be more conservative than the state Senate and those opposed to the bill are also ramping up their efforts. Downstate, Springfield Bishop Thomas John Paprocki issued a screed urging that Catholics who "propose or promote the legal establishment of marriage as somethingother than the union of one man and one woman harm the common good of society."
If Illinois moves to legalize same-sex marriage, it will become the tenth marriage equality U.S. state. The state has had civil unions available for same-sex couples since June 2011.

I hope you call or email your legislators to vote YES on IL SB10. We need to pray that this bill gets passed through both the Senate and the House, and off to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk for signing the bill into law.


My editorial in the 01.30.2013 edition of the Belleville News-Democrat in support of same-sex marriage:

With the pending legalization of same-sex marriage coming to the Land of Lincoln via the Illinois General Assembly, let’s remember some facts:

•  Same-sex marriage legalization benefits the economy.

• Marriage is between two human adults, whether it is between a man and a woman, woman and woman, or man and man.

• It will not lead to people marrying their cats, dogs, turtles, computers or any other non-human(s).

• Unlike the current civil unions law, same-sex couples will have full benefits and rights.

• Despite the fearmongering from the Illinois Family Institute and other religious right conservative interest groups, religious freedoms will not be weakened if this bill passes.

I think it’s long past time to make Illinois the tenth state to legalize same-sex marriage 

.
Justin Gibson
Granite City

Another letter by me in the 02.16.2012 edition of the BND in support of SSM:

Next comes gay marriage 

With recent news reports saying that Illinois will possibly get full marriage equality legalized, I hope more good things happen to our state.
We got civil unions passed more than a year ago (thanks to the miraculous re-election of Gov. Pat Quinn), but this is a long overdue critical next step for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning rights.
The religious right and their far-right homophobic sympathizers such as the Illinois Family Institute and National Organization for Marriage will try to derail it at all costs, but in the end, it will pass for the good of the citizens. 

Justin Gibson
Granite City

Twitter/Instagram hashtags in support of IL SB10: #IL4M, #ILove, #ILequality, #ILSB10