Last Tuesday I was in Springfield when the Illinois House Executive Committee narrowly approved State Representative Greg Harris‘ bill to redefine marriage and family. I will be in Springfield again today and tomorrow to speak with key lawmakers about this terrible bill, hoping to appeal to their better judgement. I ask for your prayers.

With just one more step in the legislative process, the homosexual lobby is pushing extremely hard to get the 60 votes they need to send it to the governor, who has already promised to sign it. While they do not yet have the votes, they are working tirelessly to make Illinois the 10th state in the nation to officially recognize same-sex “marriage.” In an all-out effort to get the votes they need, Lt. Gov. Shelia Simon and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel are doing everything they can to generate a grass-roots response from their base. Last week, high-profile lobbyists from Washington D.C. were there trying to convince key lawmakers in the black caucus.

The stated goal from proponents is to try to get this anti-family legislation passed this week. Our stated goal is to make sure they never reach the 60 vote number and therefore, are not able to call it for a vote in the Illinois House at all this year.  

Please help us preserve the culture and families of Illinois from the devestating effects of marriage redefinition. Don’t wait. Your voice may be the ONE that makes the difference.

Take ACTION:  If you haven’t yet sent an email or a fax to your state representative — it is time to speak up now!  Click HERE to contact your Illinois Representative and tell him/her to oppose the effort to redefine marriage! You can also call him/her through the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000.

Better still, schedule a meeting with your representative, bring as many constituents as you can, and ask him or her the questions available HERE.

Bulletin Insert:  Ask your pastor to share this new bulletin insert with the congregation.  The body of Christ and people of faith must speak out now.

More ACTION:  Contact your family and friends at church and let them know that they should speak out against this radical proposal — post your opinions on Facebook and Twitter.

You can also help us continue the fight for natural marriage by donating $15, $25, $50 or $100 or more today. With your support we can continue our vital work!  Click HERE to support the work and ministry of Illinois Family Institute.

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.