Illinois marriage-equality efforts have taken a sharp turn, as proponents in the Senate opted to attach the legalization of gay marriage as an amendment to a bill regarding automobile rentals, rather than push for direct passage of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.
“Everything can change at a moment’s notice,” Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov told the Windy City Times. “It’s still absolutely crucial that people contact their lawmakers.”
Senate Democrats had planned to introduce the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act yesterday but failed to garner enough votes for an immediate hearing. Sen. Heather Steans, the bill’s chief sponsor had indicated she was confident the bill would be introduced today. Steans hasn’t made a statement about the new plan, but the amendment to HB4963 was scheduled for a committee hearing this morning, and a vote could come later today.
Meanwhile, the National Organization for Marriage has pledged a quarter-million dollars to defeat any Republican senators who vote in support of same-sex marriage in Illinois. “Any Republican in Illinois who betrays the cause of marriage will be casting a career-ending vote and will be held accountable to their constituents,” said Brian Brown, NOM’s president. “We will spend whatever it takes — hundreds of thousands of dollars if necessary — to remove them from office.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
It’s kind of brilliant: Now Republican backers can just say they were voting for a car-rental bill.
Cam
The funny thing about NOM’s threats are that the GOP members of the NY state legislature that voted for marriage saw their fundraising efforts go up sometimes as much as ten times.
And the fact that NOM’s own fundraising has dropped severely in just a few years, AND the fact that they have just lost all four of their most recent battles shows that they are a paper tiger.
If they had the money they would be running ads right now against this, but they don’t have the cash so they are announcing a fake threat that they don’t have the cash to back up later on.
Barry
Job Creation at its Best here. NOM is just out to harm people and waste money on their cause. Same sex families harm nobody. Let’s keep wasting thousands of dollars on irrational delusional fears. Thanks NOM and keep showing your true colors.
1EqualityUSA
NOMinal:
nom·i·nal
/?nämin?l/
Adjective
(of a role or status) Existing in name only.
Of, relating to, or consisting of names.
Synonyms
titular
tit·u·lar
/?tiCH?l?r/
Adjective
Holding or constituting a purely formal position or title without any real authority: “the queen is titular head of the Church of England”.
(of a cleric) Nominally appointed to serve a diocese, abbey, or other foundation no longer in existence, and typically in fact having…
Synonyms
nominal – titulary