Thousands of Civil Union Postcards to Illinois Legislators
For Immediate Release Contact: Rick Garcia
August 22, 2007 312-560-0405
Thousands of Civil Union Postcards to Illinois Legislators
CHICAGO -- Equality Illinois and PFLAG volunteers used Halsted Marketdays as a backdrop to collect postcards from supporters of a bill pending in the Illinois General Assembly that would recognize same-sex couples and give them some of the rights and benefits of marriage.
Over two-thousand pro-civil union postcards were signed by voters from 91 of Illinois' 118 legislative districts during the August 18 weekend on North Halsted Street in Chicago.
Equality Illinois has sorted the cards and addressed them to the appropriate legislators. The postcards will be delivered to the legislators during constituent visits.
"Legislators do listen to their constituents," said Rick Garcia, political director of Equality Illinois. "These postcards are a powerful tool in demonstrating support for recognizing and protecting same-sex couples and in securing the necessary votes for the civil union bill."
(Lambda Legal also used the street fair to gather over one-thousand signatures in support of the legislation.)
"The last handful of votes is very hard to get. You have to be right on the issue, have statewide support, corporate support and the support of thousands of families and individuals in every corner of the State," said State Representative Greg Harris (D-Ravenswood) sponsor of the civil union bill. "We are building that groundswell across Illinois and soon will be able to enact this legislation to protect all Illinois families."
The Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act (HB1826) passed the Illinois House Rules Committee, the Human Services Committee, and awaits a vote by the full Illinois House of Representatives. If passed, the bill will recognize same-sex couples in Illinois and will convey some of the rights, responsibilities and privileges of marriage. The bill also affirms religious institutions' right to solemnize or not solemnize such unions.
August 22, 2007 312-560-0405
Thousands of Civil Union Postcards to Illinois Legislators
CHICAGO -- Equality Illinois and PFLAG volunteers used Halsted Marketdays as a backdrop to collect postcards from supporters of a bill pending in the Illinois General Assembly that would recognize same-sex couples and give them some of the rights and benefits of marriage.
Over two-thousand pro-civil union postcards were signed by voters from 91 of Illinois' 118 legislative districts during the August 18 weekend on North Halsted Street in Chicago.
Equality Illinois has sorted the cards and addressed them to the appropriate legislators. The postcards will be delivered to the legislators during constituent visits.
"Legislators do listen to their constituents," said Rick Garcia, political director of Equality Illinois. "These postcards are a powerful tool in demonstrating support for recognizing and protecting same-sex couples and in securing the necessary votes for the civil union bill."
(Lambda Legal also used the street fair to gather over one-thousand signatures in support of the legislation.)
"The last handful of votes is very hard to get. You have to be right on the issue, have statewide support, corporate support and the support of thousands of families and individuals in every corner of the State," said State Representative Greg Harris (D-Ravenswood) sponsor of the civil union bill. "We are building that groundswell across Illinois and soon will be able to enact this legislation to protect all Illinois families."
The Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act (HB1826) passed the Illinois House Rules Committee, the Human Services Committee, and awaits a vote by the full Illinois House of Representatives. If passed, the bill will recognize same-sex couples in Illinois and will convey some of the rights, responsibilities and privileges of marriage. The bill also affirms religious institutions' right to solemnize or not solemnize such unions.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 7:11 PM
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