On Friday afternoon, the Illinois State Senate Executive Committee heard testimony on Senator Heather Steans‘ “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” (HB 4963).  With nine Democrats and 6 Republicans on this committee, the bill easily passed out of the committee by a vote of 8 to 5.  

The hearing included emotionally manipulative testimonies from a self-identifying lesbian mom and a PFLAG parent, two liberal clergy members, and Laura E. Berk,  Professor of Psychology at Illinois State University.  Testifying in favor of natural marriage include Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki, Rev. Bob Vanden Bosch and Ralph Rivera on behalf of Illinois Family Institute.

Background

The homosexual lobby, which includes Equality Illinois and the Civil Rights Agenda, are working overtime in an attempt to secure support of 60 state representatives for their marriage redefinition bill. Other politicians and groups assisting in passing the measure include Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Governor Patrick Quinn, Lt. Governor Shelia Simon, Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Stonewall Democrats, and Illinois Log Cabin Republicans.

For the past four General Assembly sessions (8 years), a constitutional amendment to define marriage as one man and one woman has been introduced. And each year, Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) has refused to move it to a committee to be debated and voted on. If this amendment were to come before the entire General Assembly, we are confident that it would receive the two-thirds vote needed to pass. And once passed by the General Assembly, it would be placed on a ballot referendum in the next state wide election forIllinois voters to decide.

We cannot afford to ignore this situation! Illinois citizens can send a strong message by calling, emailing and/or visiting your state lawmakers in support of natural marriage.

Take ACTION:  If you haven’t yet sent an email or a fax to your state lawmakers, please do it now!  Click HERE to let them know what you think.

Please forward this article to your family and friends in Illinois.

A month ago I wrote an article drawing your attention to the fact that anti-family forces were planning their next steps to redefine natural marriage here in Illinois. Well, late last week they introduced a bill in the Illinois House of Representatives that, if passed, would bring homosexual so-called “marriage” to the Land of Lincoln. State Representatives Greg Harris (D-Chicago), Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) filed HB 5170 last week.  Signing on as co-sponsors are Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Daniel Biss (D-Skokie).

Ironically, the bill is titled the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.” We all know how the “Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act” worked out for Christian adoption agencies and Christian small business owners like the Walder family.

We shouldn’t be surprised by the hubris of Illinois’ three openly homosexual state lawmakers who offer empty assurances to their colleagues and people of faith that religious freedom will be protected. Pray that this latest attempt to deceive will not fool the faith-based community again.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email or a fax to your state representative NOW and urge him/her to VOTE NO on HB 5170.  Springfield lawmakers need to hear from you right away.  If you are also inclinded to make a phone call, the switchboard phone number in Springfield is (217) 782-2000.

Background

If you’ve been reading our emails over the past few years, you know that homosexual activists and their allies are aggressively pursuing their radical goals here in Illinois.

This is not the first time that a same-sex bill has been introduced.  In February 2007, State Representative Greg Harris introduced a similar bill but then quickly scrapped it for a “civil union” bill.  While I do not believe there is enough support in the Illinois General Assembly to pass a bill legalizing homosexual so-called “marriage” at this time, we know they will not relent until they have completely dismantled marriage and family.  The challenges we face on the pro-marriage and pro-family front are great.

That is why the primary and general elections this year are so very important. We have a chance to elect God-fearing men and women, and move the General Assembly toward a more family-friendly environment.  Liberal activists recognize that this bill may not have the votes to pass this year, but they have to try this year because the state legislature will likely be more conservative after the 2012 elections than it is now.

The battle lines have been clearly drawn. The ACLU, Lambda Legal, Equality Illinois, The Civil Rights Agenda and Gay and Lesbian affirming churches will lobby fervently here in Illinois to achieve their goal of redefining marriage.  IFI will work tenaciously with legislators to build a strong coalition around protecting marriage from this latest assault from liberal and LGBT activists.  If those who support natural marriage — God’s institution of marriage — are silent now, it will be easier to convince legislators to redefine marriage without fear of consequences.  So, do not be silent.

This debate will not be decided based on who has the stronger arguments. It will be won by whoever cares more. This issue will come down to whether or not pro-marriage voters can convince their legislators that voting to redefine marriage is not in their political best interest. If legislators believe that voting to redefine marriage will cost them their jobs, they won’t do it. It really is that simple.

This debate will be passionate, but please stay calm. Uncivil dialogue is counterproductive. Express your passionate concern about marriage to your legislators in respectful ways.

If each of us controls the things we can control, the results will be good. If we act as if it doesn’t matter and remain, as too many do, “above the fray,” the results for society will be corrosive.

Please pass this information along so that your friends and family know what is happening and what they can do about it.

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