How did they vote?

HB 2675 — the “comprehensive” sex education bill now moves to Governor Patrick Quinn’s desk.

This afternoon, the Illinois Senate voted 37 to 21 to pass HB 2675 after a one-hour heated debate.  See the official voting record of how your state senator voted by clicking HERE to download it or look at the chart below.  

IFI is grateful to the lawmakers who spoke out against this terrible legislation, including State Senators Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), Kyle McCarter (R-Vandalia), Jim Oberweis (R-North Aurora), Sue Rezin (R-Morris), Mike Connelly (R-Wheaton), Chapin Rose (R-Champaign), and Republican Minority Leader Christine Radongno (R-Lemont).  We appreciate that Democratic Senators Gary Forby (Benton) and Bill Haine (Alton) joined all 19 Senate Republicans who voted against this proposal.

HB 2675 is completely unnecessary and an intrusion into local control. Public schools in Illinois already have the ability to teach “comprehensive” sex education if they wish. Local public school administrators do not need a mandate from Springfield telling them they must teach comprehensive sex education when the preponderance of evidence suggests that authentic abstinence education is successful.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email or a fax to Gov. Quinn today to ask him to VETO HB 2675.  You can also call the governor’s office at (800) 642-3112.

We need a flood of calls, emails and faxes to the Governor’s office if we hope to stop this bill from being signed into law.

Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

How did they vote?

SB 1739 — a bill to expand gambling with five new casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Park City and a location in the south suburbs as well as video slot machines at racetracks and in Chicago airports — now moves to the Illinois House for consideration.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Illinois Senate debated and passed SB 1739 by a vote of 32 to 20 (with one voting present).  SB 1739 is a proposal to vastly increase gambling in Illinois. This predatory gambling expansion bill was sponsored in the Illinois Senate by State Senators Terry Link (D-Lincolnshire), and Donne Trotter (D-Chicago).

Look at the official voting record of how your state senator voted: click HERE to download it.

We are grateful to State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), who was the only lawmaker to speak out against SB 1739 in defense of families and common sense. 

This bill was amended to remove Internet gambling, but the bill still includes 5 new casinos, and slot machines at 6 racetracks and Chicago’s two airports.   The city-owned casino for Chicago will have 4,000 gambling positions while the number of gambling positions at the other casinos will increase to 1,600.  With the ability to purchase additional positions for a maximum of 2,000, existing casinos would nearly double in size.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to email or fax your state representative about this anti-family legislation.  Ask him/her to vote NO to SB 1739.  You can also call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000.

We’re grateful that nine Democrat senators voted against more gambling in the Land of Lincoln, but it’s disturbing to note that six Republican senators voted in favor of this massive anti-family gambling bill despite the fact that the Illinois Republican Platform identifies gambling as being harmful:

We call on the Governor and the General Assembly to balance the state budget and provide for a responsible capital development program without resorting to the expansion of gambling, which harms Illinois’ families and our state’s business climate and presents costly challenges for both law enforcement and social service agencies.

Far too many “conservative” lawmakers exhibited concern about the gambling interests within their districts rather than serving the best interests of the families of Illinois. Republican State Senators who voted yes to SB 1739 are:  Jason Barickman (Bloomington), Kirk Dillard (Westmont), David Luechtefeld (Okawville), Matt Murphy (Palatine), Chapin Rose (Champaign) and David Syverson (Rockford).  

Read more:  Harms of Legalized Gambling

Contact your state representatives now!

Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

How did they vote?

The Illinois House of Representatives approved “Medical Cannabis” (HB 1) Wednesday afternoon by a vote of 61–57.  This bill allows a “qualified” patient to have 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days (183 joints, 13 per day).  Even the most experienced user smokes an average of three or four joints a day, potentially allowing the surplus to be sold on the streets.  This anti-family legislation is sponsored by State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie).

Click HERE to see how your state representative voted on this anti-family legislation.  It is important to note that State Representatives Mike Bost (R-Carbondale), Jim Sacia (R-Freeport), and Patricia Bellock (R-Westmont) raised strong objections to the bill during floor debate.  

On the other hand, State Representatives JoAnn Osmond (R-Gurnee), Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), David Harris (R-Arlington Heights), Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and others spoke in favor of passing this terrible bill.

The issue of legitimizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes will encourage and increase destructive behavior in users. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. Research has found that adolescent and teen drug use rises as the perception of harm diminishes. If marijuana is classified as medicine, marijuana use among youth would increase.

The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email or a fax to your state senator today to ask him/her to vote NO to HB 1.  You can also call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000.

Background

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world. Legalization for any reason will create a law enforcement nightmare. We ignore the concerns of the law enforcement community at our peril.

When perceived risk goes down due to legalization, use among adolescents increases. Legalization will indicate to adolescents that it’s not harmful, creating pain, problems and heartache for countless families.

Consider the following:

• Marijuana impairs cognitive and psychomotor performance. It can slow reaction time, impair motor coordination, limit short-term memory, and make it difficult to concentrate and perform complex tasks. Spatial perception is distorted and time perception is impaired so that perceived time goes faster than clock time.
• Marijuana can produce severe anxiety and panic, paranoia and psychosis. Hallucinations may occur with high doses of marijuana.
• Impairment from one joint can last more than 24 hours.
• Marijuana produces a feeling of intoxication. The high comes on within minutes of smoking and then reaches a plateau lasting 2 hours or more, depending on the dose.
• Marijuana smoke is absorbed through the lungs, enters the bloodstream rapidly, and reaches the brain within minutes. 
• Marijuana is unlike other drugs. Marijuana is fat soluble rather than water soluble. It rapidly accumulates in fatty tissues in the body and is then slowly released. The half-life of THC, the psychoactive ingredient, is about 7 days and complete elimination of a single dose may take up to 30 days. 
• Because marijuana is slowly eliminated from the body, there is no accurate way of relating blood, urine, saliva or sweat concentrations to the degree of intoxication.

  
  (Source; Ashton, C. Heather, Pharmacology and effects of
  cannabis:   British Journal of Psychiatry: Feb. 2001.)

Contact your state senator now!

 Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

How did they vote?

The Illinois House of Representatives passed the disastrous “Comprehensive” Sex Education (HB 2675) this afternoon by a vote of 66–52.  This bill would mandate that public school that teach sex education teach “comprehensive” sex education in grades 6-12.  That may sound reasonable until you read what the national go-to organization for sex-ed curriculum, SEICUS, lists as “age-appropriate.”

Illinois law currently mandates that schools teach abstinence until marriage.  Teaching “comprehensive” sex education is currently optional as a local school decision.  This bill was sponsored by State Representative Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) and heavily promoted by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Illinois.

Click HERE to see how your state representative voted on this anti-family legislation.  It is important to note that State Representatives David Reis (R-Olney), Tom Morrison (R-Palatine), Pam Roth (R-Morris), and Dwight Kay (R-Edwardsville) raised strong objections to the bill during floor debate.

HB 2675 is completely unnecessary and an intrusion into local control. Public schools in Illinois already have the ability to teach “comprehensive” sex education if they wish. Local public school administrators do not need a mandate from Springfield telling them they must teach comprehensive sex education when the preponderance of evidence suggests, and the U.S. Congress agrees, that authentic abstinence education is successful.

The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email or a fax to your state senator today to ask him/her to vote NO to HB 2675.

We need a flood of calls, emails and faxes if we hope to stop this bill from passing in the Illinois Senate. Call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to be transferred to your state senator to urge him/her to vote against HB 2675.

Please take a few minutes NOW to contact your state representative: Message: Oppose HB 2675 to ensure that students in our taxpayer funded schools are not needlessly subjected to “comprehensive” or “Abstinence Plus” sex education that emphasize and encourage contraception use, rather than abstinence.

Contraception-centered sex-education curricula encourage children and youth into early sexual experimentation. They mislead youth and create a false hope that condoms will provide sufficient protection from the physical, emotional and social consequences of early sexual activity. Authentic abstinence education programs provide youth with life and character skills, not condom skills. Sexual activity among youth is far too costly for adolescents, families, society and taxpayers.

Passing HB 2675 would mandate the teaching of curricula that most parents and taxpayers would find objectionable. Moreover, this proposal would require teachers to say that “contraception” prevents sexually transmitted disease (STDs).  Please take a moment to contact your state senator to urge him/her to stand in opposition to this bill.

Call your state senator now.

 Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

Originally posted at IllinoisReview.com

MUNDELEIN – While the State Central Committee of the Illinois Republican Party was meeting in Tinley Park to discuss the retention of Pat Brady as Chairman following his lobbying for gay marriage, a crowd that surged to 150 people at one time gathered in front of State Rep. Ed Sullivan’s district office in Mundelein to protest his recently announced intention to vote for the same-sex marriage bill currently being considered in Springfield.

The rally organizers told Illinois Review that the rally was organized in just a few days, and the fact that so many people came out to protest is a clear indication of the true majority voice of the district.

The protest included a number of elected Republican officials, including current and former GOP township chairs and precinct committeemen. At the close of the rally, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran (R), Father O’Reilly of the Mundelein Santa Maria del Popolo parish, and rally organizers, Eric Burgess(Vernon Township Republican Chair) and Elise Bouc, all spoke to the crowd about the importance of traditional marriage and its impact on providing the most optimal environment for children as well as being a key contributor to our society’s stability. 

Representative Sullivan has described the response to his announcement as being “overwhelmingly positive.” Given the large number of residents who have expressed their disapproval with his decision, the math just doesn’t add up to being “overwhelmingly positive,” noted one organizer. In fact, the news of his announcement has generated a significantly negative reaction in many of the political groups, churches and private schools in the area, with many voters expressing a determination to challenge Sullivan in next year’s primary election.

Representative Sullivan’s district 51 is located in the northern suburbs of Chicago and includes parts or all the communities of Libertyville, Mundelein, Long Grove, Kildeer, Fremont, Lake Zurich, Deer Park, Barrington and Vernon Hills.

More photos below:

 

The 2013-2014 General Assembly session is well underway.  Our state lawmakers are in session until May 31^st and can work to pass any of the following bills.  Please take a few moments to contact your state senator and representative.  The Capitol switchboard number is (217) 782-2000.   (For printable version, click here)

Marriage Redefinition (SB 10) – Sponsored by State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago).  This bill has already passed the Illinois Senate on February 14^th, and is now being considered in the Illinois House, but it faces significant opposition.  It can be stopped if citizens are willing to speak out and take a stand.

“Comprehensive” Sex Education (HB 2675) –– Sponsored by State Representative Camille Lilly (D-Chicago).  This bill would mandate that public school who teach sex education teach “comprehensive” sex education in grades 6-12.  Illinois law currently mandates that schools teach abstinence until marriage.  Teaching “comprehensive” sex education is currently optional as a local school decision.

“Medical” Marijuana  (HB 1) –– Sponsored by State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie).  This bill allows a “qualified” patient to have 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days (183 joints, 13 per day).  Even the most experienced user smokes an average of three or four joints a day, potentially allowing the surplus to be sold on the streets. Moreover, “medical” marijuana laws normalize marijuana use, which significantly decreases the perception of harm especially among adolescents and teens.

Gambling Expansion (SB 1739) – Sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Gurnee).  This 500+ page bill adds 5 new casinos, authorizes video slot machines at existing racetracks (creating 6 new racinos) and would make Illinois one of the first states to legalize gambling from home on the Internet. 

Compulsory School Age Attendance (SB 1307) – Sponsored by State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago).  This proposal would extend government control over children by lowering the compulsory school age from 7 to 5.  Current law requires school attendance beginning at age 7.  Parents, not government bureaucrats, are best suited to decide when their children should begin school.

The Ultrasound Opportunity Act (HB 2683) – Sponsored by State Representatives Barbara Wheeler (R-Fox Lake) and David McSweeny (R-Cary).  This bill would require abortion providers to simply offer an ultrasound picture to women considering abortion.  The choice of whether or not to view the ultrasound picture is still hers.  Research has proven that between 70 to 90 percent of “abortion minded” women who see an image of their unborn child chose life.

Abortion Clinic Safety Regulations (HB 2684) – Sponsored by State Representatives Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) and Barbara Wheeler (R-Fox Lake).  This legislation would require abortion clinics that perform more than 50 abortions a year to meet basic safety regulations of other surgical outpatient treatment centers.

Marriage Amendment (SJRCA 9) Sponsored by State Senator Sam McCann (R-Jacksonville) and (HJRCA 6) sponsored by State Representatives Dan Beiser (D-Alton) and Dwight Kay (R-Edwardsville).  These constitutional amendments would permanently define marriage as the union of one man and one woman in the Illinois Constitution.

The foolish and false rationalizations State Representative Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) is providing to his constituents for his betrayal — I mean “evolution” — on marriage bear closer examination.

Here are the relevant portions of his letter:

After personal reflection and discussions with members of our community, I have decided to support civil marriage because it goes to the core of what I believe our State’s—and indeed our Nation’s—Constitution intends: a limited government whose citizens are free to make personal choices with equal protection under the law.

The role of a limited government is to fairly hold all people as equals, regardless of race, creed, or orientation, not to devise rules that make moral judgments of any particular class. Furthermore, each citizen should be left to himself or herself to make deeply personal decisions regarding life and the pursuit of happiness. Constrained by these principles, government should not stand in the way of consenting adults who wish to commit to each other through civil marriage, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Just as I believe that gay and lesbian couples should be able to make their own choices, I believe that religious institutions and their adherents should be free to make their own choices about this issue without the government’s intrusion. The Religious Freedom and Fairness Act explicitly states within its purpose that “nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, limit, or expand the ability of a religious denomination to exercise First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution or the Illinois Constitution.” I could not have supported the bill without the guarantee of these strong religious protections.

Sincerely,

Ed Sullivan 

Here are some thoughts about and questions for Rep. Sullivan (questions that Sullivan and all other lawmakers who support the legalization of same-sex “marriage” should be compelled to answer): 

• Sullivan refers to supporting “civil marriage” but fails to address the more fundamental question “What is marriage?” Is marriage something we create out of whole cloth or does it have a nature that we merely recognize? Is it solely about who loves whom or is it connected to sexual complementarity? If it’s solely about who loves whom, then why the binary requirement and why is the government involved at all? 

• Legalizing same-sex “marriage” will lead to more government  involvement in marriage—not less. A revolutionary governmental conclusion that marriage has no inherent connection to gender would be neither reflective of smaller government nor resultant in less government involvement. How does Sullivan arrive at the peculiar notion that the decision by lawmakers to jettison one of the central defining features of marriage constitutes more limited government?

• Sullivan refers to the freedom to “make personal choices with equal protection under the law” while never addressing the role of government in protecting the superordinate rights of children to know and be raised whenever possible by their biological mother and father (or alternatively by a mother and father). Did his “personal reflection” extend beyond the “personal choices” of homosexual adults to the more fundament issue of the personal rights of children? 

• Rights are afforded to individuals not couples. Homosexuals are not demanding a right they don’t have. They are demanding the right to eliminate one criterion from the legal definition of marriage to suit their desires and which will transform not merely the government’s definition of marriage but also the public’s understanding of what marriage is. 

• Sullivan, either in an astonishing display of ignorance or dishonesty, claims that he believes religious “adherents should be free to make their own choices about this issue without government intrusion,” pointing to the bill’s purported religious protections which he claims constitute “strong religious protections.” Oh, really. 

  Someone should ask Sullivan if Christian owners of wedding-related businesses will be permitted to refuse to use their time, labor, gifts, products, and services for same-sex “weddings.” Will Christian photographers, videographers, bakers, florists, caterers, calligraphers, graphic designers,  wedding venue owners, restaurant owners, and bed & breakfast owners be permitted to exercise their religious liberty by refusing to use their gifts in the service of same-sex “weddings”? And will Catholic and Protestant schools be permitted to refuse to hire custodians or secretaries who are in homosexual “marriages”? 

• Did Sullivan’s “personal reflection” include studying deeply the subjects of equality, marriage, and “orientation” Has he read the book What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense or the essay “Cats and Dogs and Marriage Laws”? Has he read the essay “The Red Herring of ‘Marriage Equality” ? Has he read these essays on limited government and marriage (including three by libertarian economist Jennifer-Roback Morse), all of which argue that the legalization of same-sex “marriage” not only reflects government involvement but actually increases government involvement in non-neutral ways: “Big Government Should Not Redefine Marriage,”  “Privatizing Marriage is Impossible,”  “Privatizing Marriage will Expand the Role of the State,”  and “Privatizing Marriage is Unjust to Children.” 

  Studying these resources will be infinitely more helpful than navel-gazing or talking to homosexual relatives. I suspect, however, that Sullivan is little invested in deep study of this crucial social institution and the relevant public policy. I also doubt the capacity of many lawmakers, including Sullivan, to be persuaded by reason. Emotion carries the day in contemporary America. 

• Sullivan recoils from “rules that make moral judgments.” To learn that a lawmaker has an aversion to moral judgment-making is unfortunate because all laws “make moral judgments.” Why do we prohibit Jim Crow laws? Why do we prohibit marriage between minors and adults? Why do we prohibit two brothers from marrying? Why do we prohibit plural marriages? In fact, Sullivan himself has determined that it’s not moral to withhold marriage licenses from homosexual couples. 

• Sullivan claims that the “government should not stand in the way of consenting adults who wish to commit to each other through civil marriage.” Well, the government prohibits consenting adults who are closely related by blood from marrying, and the government prohibits consenting adults who wish to marry more than one person from marrying. Will further “personal reflection” lead Sullivan to evolve on the issues of plural marriage and incestuous marriage? Will he soon argue that polyamorous citizens “should be left to make deeply personal decisions regarding life and the pursuit of happiness”? If not, why not? Inquiring minds want to know precisely what Sullivan’s reasons are for jettisoning the gender requirement while retaining the binary requirement. 

We should expect and demand more thoughtful lawmakers and more substantive reasons for their positions on the essential issue of marriage—an issue far more important than tax rates or pension-fund reform.

Rep. Sullivan’s email address is ILhouse51@sbcglobal.net and his district phone number is (847) 566-5115.

 Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

Talking Points Memo (TPM) is reporting that Kathleen Betts, a constituent in State Representative Tom Morrison’s legislative district, is troubled that Illinois Representative Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) dared to suggest that the legalization of same-sex “marriage” may lead to the legalization of polygamy or relationships that currently constitute violations of statutory rape laws.

Applying consistently the beliefs of the Left that propel the push to legalize same-sex “marriage,” however, will necessarily lead to the legalization of plural unions, including polygamous, polyandrous, and polyamorous unions. If, as the Left asserts, marriage has no inherent connection to sexual complementarity or reproductive potential, and if it’s solely about who loves whom, what rational basis is there to prohibit plural unions?

If we were to apply consistently the beliefs of the Left, wouldn’t Ms. Betts’s apparent opposition to legalized polygamy indicate her prejudice toward—perhaps even hatred of—polygamists, polyamorists, and bisexuals? Why should they be denied their right to marry the persons they love? Who is she to impose in law her biases against polygamists and polyamorists? Shouldn’t she evolve on the issue of marriage equality for polygamists, polyandrists, polyamorists, and bisexuals like President Obama and Senators Portman and Kirk have evolved on same-sex “marriage”? And wherever did Betts come up with the magic number two as an essential criterion for marriage?

Of course, conservatives understand the derivation of the binary requirement. It derives from the objective fact that there are two sexes, an inconvenient fact that escapes the marital reasoning of “progressives.” They remove sexual complementarity and reproductive potential from their understanding of marriage and are then left with this now utterly irrational binary requirement—a vestigial organ that will soon be surgically removed as a diseased relic, no longer necessary to the proper functioning of “marriage.”

In their brave new world, where the twoness of marriage no longer has any meaning, purpose, or justification, they’ll still absurdly take umbrage at the suggestion that legalized same-sex “marriage” necessarily leads to legalized plural marriage. Logic means next to nothing to “progressives” who live and move and have their being in subjectivism and emotionalism.

Whereas a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, retreat from a commonsense, logical consistency is the hobgoblin of Leftist minds.

I would take issue with one thing that Morrison did: He apologized. Although it was likely motivated by sincere regret for causing offense, it was unnecessary.

The ethical legitimacy of our public speech is not determined by the subjective response of our audience. “Progressives,” obsessed with “feelings” far more than truth or logic, exploit the natural human desire to be liked and not to offend. They talk ad nauseum about feeling “unsafe” or hurt by the expression of ideas, including moral propositions about volitional behavior, with which they disagree. This strategy works because we let it work.

Imagine if we applied this “progressive” idea consistently. Imagine if we said no one should express any idea or moral proposition that makes others uncomfortable or with which they disagree. No one could express any moral propositions publicly. We couldn’t say, for example, that racism, adultery, or polygamy is immoral because it might hurt the feelings of the racist, adulterer, or polygamist who hears it.

The truth is that the ethical legitimacy of our speech is wholly unrelated to how our audience “feels” or thinks about the content of our words. The ethical legitimacy of our speech is determined by its truth (i.e., we should not lie) and the manner in which we deliver it (i.e., we should not hurl epithets, use obscene or profane language, or scream at people). Rep. Morrison spoke truth and from all accounts did so respectfully. He bears no guilt for the feelings Ms. Betts had about his ideas. No apology was owed.

The Republican Party desperately needs more lawmakers with the integrity, wisdom, courage, and grace of Tom Morrison.

(Photo by Robert Black)

Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

Last week, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) told reporters that the bill to redefine marriage — SB 10 —  was “12 votes short of passage.”  It has also been reported that the sponsor of the same-sex marriage bill, State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago), thinks they are closer than that, but wouldn’t say how many votes they still need.  A bill must have 60 votes to pass in the Illinois House.  We are confident that Rep. Harris will not call the bill until he is absolutely sure he has the 60 votes needed for passage.  Our goal, therefore, is to make sure that Rep. Harris is never able to call this bill for a vote.

While we’d like to believe Speaker Madigan’s count, we cannot afford to.  Things move very quickly in Springfield, and with a high profile bill like same-sex marriage, the status can change quickly with the outcome devastating to families.  The fact is, too many “on-the-fence” lawmakers lack core convictions about the importance of the institution of marriage.  We have seen lawmakers who gave us their word they would vote one way, change their mind and vote the other way at the last minute. Therefore, we must continue our grassroots pressure.

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.

More ACTION:  Our state lawmakers will be on spring break for two weeks from March 25th thru April 5th.  Please consider trying to secure a meeting for you and some friends with your local state representative during this time period.

Rally for Marriage:  A group of African-American religious leaders are organizing a March and Rally for Saturday, March 23rd.  This event will begin at Washington and Michigan in downtown Chicago at 11:30.  For more information, please call Apostle Debra Gaines at (773) 809-4823.

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.

The Illinois House Executive Committee approved a bill to redefine marriage late last night by okaying SB 10. The bill passed out of committee by a 6-5 vote.  It now goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

All four Republican lawmakers voted against the bill and were joined by Democrat State Representative Eddie Lee Jackson of East St. Louis.  It is important to note that Democrat State Representative Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) made a point to qualify his yes vote, saying that he would vote to get the bill out of committee but would not guarantee his support on the House floor, citing his religious faith and the churches in his district as his reasons for not supporting it.  No, this anti-family legislation is not as popular as some would have us believe.  They do not have the votes necessary to pass this bill, and we must continue and even intensify our opposition to this bill.

Bottom line:  same-sex marriage is not inevitable.

Those who testified against SB 10 included Dr. Jennifer Roback-Morse, President of the Ruth Institute (a project of the National Organization for Marriage); Kellie M. Fiedorek, Litigation Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom; Linda Jernigan who lived as a lesbian for nearly twenty years but through the power of Jesus Christ now walks free from the homosexual lifestyle; and Pastor Danny Holliday, from Alton, Illinois.

To watch a video of the entire hearing, please click HERE.

Dr. Roback-Morse began her testimony by asking and answering the questions, “What is marriage,” and “What is owed the child”:

I urge you to reject the bill before you, SB 10. I urge you to reject any other legislation that would redefine the most basic structural feature of marriage, by removing the dual gender requirement for marriage. Redefining marriage redefines parenthood. “Marriage equality” cannot be achieved. Making same sex couples the legal equivalent of opposite sex couples will introduce new and deeper inequalities into society. 

Most importantly, redefining marriage creates structural injustices against children. To see this, we must ask ourselves: what is the essential public purpose of marriage, and what is owed to the child? 

The essential public purpose of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to their children and to one another. And the child is entitled to a relationship with and care from both of the people who brought him into being. Therefore, the child has a legitimate interest in the stability of his parents’ union. But no child can defend these entitlements himself. Nor is it adequate to make restitution after these rights have been violated. The child’s rights must be supported pro-actively, before harm is done. 

Marriage is adult society’s institutional structure for protecting these legitimate interests of children. Without this public purpose, we would not need marriage at all as a distinct social institution. 

We often hear the objection that some marriages don’t have children. This is perfectly true. However, every child has parents. The objection that some marriages don’t have children stands the rationale for marriage on its head, viewing marriage from the adult’s perspective, instead of the child’s. 

Same sex couples and opposite sex couples are obviously different with respect to this essential public purpose of marriage. And treating different things differently is not discrimination. That is why, in the few cases where courts have found opposite sex marriage to be unlawful discrimination, they have had to come up with purposes for marriage that have nothing to do with procreation or attaching children to parents. 

Thus, my first and most basic point is this: It is a structural injustice to a child, to deprive him or her of a relationship with both parents, without some compelling or unavoidable reason.

(Read her entire testimony HERE.)

It may sound odd but, even though this passed out of committee, I am encouraged by the progress we are making in Springfield .  At the same time, we cannot let down our guard for a moment.  This is still an “all hands on deck” situation, and only with your help will we be able to stop this bill from being passed!   

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.

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 $10, $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.

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

The turnout for our Defend Marriage Lobby Day on Wednesday was beyond our expectations. I thank each and everyone of you who came out to participate in the largest pro-family event at the Illinois Capitol in memory. Various reports suggest that between 3000 and 5000 people converged on the Capitol.  Our presence will reverberate for weeks and months to come.

Showing up was an important first step in the effort to stop the “fast track” effort to redefine marriage. Now we must maintain pressure on our state representatives so they don’t cave in to the homosexual lobby.

Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) has assigned the so-called “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” SB 10 to the Illinois House Executive Committee, which will hear the bill on Tuesday at 3:00 PM. If you are willing and able to  come again to Springfield for this hearing, that would be wonderful. You can help lobby legislators and fill out witness slips against this anti-family legislation.  

The Executive Committee is made up of 7 Democrats and 4 Republicans, so the outcome may be a foregone conclusion. However, I would encourage calls and/or emails to the committee members:

Chairperson:  Daniel Burke (D-Chicago)
(773) 471-2299 or burkedj2@ilga.gov

Vice-Chair: Robert Rita (D-Blue Island)
(708) 396-2822  or robertbobrita@aol.com

GOP Spokesman: Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein)
(847) 566-5115 or ILhouse51@sbcglobal.net

Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago)
(773) 843-1500 or acevedo@sbcglobal.net

Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago)
(773) 637-2000 or RepDistrict3@gmail.com

Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios (D-Chicago)
(773) 736-3939 or repberrios39@gmail.com

Rep. Keith Farnham (D-Elgin)
(847) 841-7130 or krfarnham@gmail.com

Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. (D- East St. Louis)
(618) 875-9950 or bbsty2010@gmail.com

Rep. Renee Kosel (R-Mokena)
(708) 479-4200 or rkosel@ilga.gov

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford)
(815) 547-3436 or repsosnowski@gmail.com

Rep. Michael Tryon (R-Crystal Lake)
(815) 459-6453 or Mike@miketryon.com

If SB 10 is passed into law, marriage will be redefined for everyone, stripping it of sexual complementarity. Anyone who does not agree with this new definition of marriage will soon find themselves facing legal consequences as has happened in other states and countries. This will include  lawsuits, loss of employment, facing disciplinary boards, etc. Individuals, small businesses, churches, and religious groups are all at risk.

To see how many of our “tolerant” government officials would treat dissenting views or speech, just remember what happened when Chick-Fil-A’s CEO Dan Cathy spoke out in favor of natural marriage. His company was threatened with being blacklisted and forbidden to do businesses in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel went so far as to say that “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago’s values.” (Contrast that with Emanuel’s recent defense of an offensive “hook-up” billboard in downtown Chicago in which he said, “We do have a First Amendment.”)

Elected officials in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington DC said the same thing: Chick-Fil-A was not welcome because the owner holds a traditional view of marriage. The mayor of the District of Columbia where same-sex “marriage” was imposed by their legislature said, “there is just no place for them [supporters of traditional marriage] in this city.”

How long before they tell our churches, our ministries, and our families that our values are not their values?  

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

Click HERE to support the work & ministry of IFI.

DEFEND MARRIAGE Lobby Day 
Click HERE for a PDF version of the lobby day instructions.         

When:  Wednesday, February 20th, 2013
Where:  Illinois State Capitol
Address:  401 S. 2^nd Street, Springfield, IL  62701
Time:  10:30 am – 1:30 pm 
Rally: At the Lincoln statue in front of the Capitol (10:30 to 11:00 AM)

Things are really heating up in Springfield. The pension crisis? Illinois’ financial trouble and inability to pay its bills? No, liberal lawmakers want to legalize homosexual marriage and have actually put it on a fast track. 

Join Illinois families from all over the state on Wednesday, February 20^th, to stand for natural marriage and lobby your state rep to vote NO on same-sex marriage. Pack your church vans, buses and cars and join us at the Capitol to defeat this bill that will affect your family, churches and businesses.  If 4,000 homeschoolers can stop a bill in one day, so can we! 

If people of faith allow this bill to pass, churches will be forced to change their hiring practices and allow same-sex marriage ceremonies if they rent their facilities. Individuals and businesses owners will be subjected to lawsuits and regulatory action if they refuse to condone the “new” understanding of marriage. And children will be taught in school they can marry a man or a woman when they grow up! 

SB 10 passed out of a senate committee on February 5^th. It is likely going to the full senate on Valentine’s Day. Then it will go through the same process in the House. We have time to stop this bill! 

This Lobby Day could not happen at a more appropriate time! 

Details: 

Before arriving at the Capitol, you will want to know your representative’s name & Springfield office address and what they look like.  Click HERE and type in your zip code and address. Click on the representative’s name to view their contact information and picture. It would be a good idea to print this and bring it to Springfield. 

Upon arriving at the Capitol, you will go through security and a metal detector and proceed to the IFI table located in the north hallway off of the Rotunda (middle of the Capitol). Pick up a yellow marriage button, instructions and materials. 

Proceed to your state representative’s office and ask the secretary if you can have a few minutes of his/her time. If you are able to speak to them, let them know that you are a constituent and have traveled to Springfield to urge a NO vote on the same-sex marriage bill. Ask how they will be voting. If the representative is not in their office, ask the secretary where they are. 

If they are in a committee hearing or caucus meeting: you may go to the room and wait for them to come out. (This is where knowing what they look like will come in handy.) Once they exit the room, approach them, introduce yourself and ask if you can have a minute to speak to them. Urge them to vote NO on SB 10. Feel free to share your concerns depending on the amount of time they have. Be respectful of their time. 

If they are in the House Chambers, take the business-size card provided at the IFI table and proceed to the third floor. Go to the House Chambers side. It will be the area with all the people waiting outside a very large door. Write your name and address and their name on the card. Give it to one of the doormen who will enter the Chambers and deliver it to the representative. Eventually he/she will come out to talk to you, so watch for them. (Another reason their picture will be helpful.) 

If you are unable to speak to them, leave the pre-printed letter, available at the IFI table, with their secretary so that they will know you were there. Feel free to write your own note on the paper. 

Please pray that this bill will be stopped in the House. Pray before coming to Springfield and while there. Just your presence as Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) has tremendous spiritual impact on the lawmakers and this bill. The fact that hundreds/thousands will be there wearing a bright yellow button depicting marriage as one man and one woman and you took the time to travel to the Capitol has more impact than you will ever realize. Many lawmakers will be hard-pressed to vote on a bill that may cost them their next election, if for no other reason. 

Thank you for taking time to help defeat this bill and to boldly speak out on behalf of God’s established order of marriage and family!

Click HERE for a PDF version of the lobby day instructions.

Click HERE to make a donation to IFI.

How did they vote?

Five pro-family lawmakers, Senators Tim Bivins (R-Dixon), Dan Duffy (R-Barrington), William Haine (D-Alton), Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), and Kyle McCarter (R-Vandalia), had the courage to challenge this anti-family legislation on the Senate floor during debate while seven Democratic lawmakers  made emotional manipulative appeals for the bill’s passage.  Surprisingly, Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) was the only Republican to speak in favor of this anti-family legislation.  He then was the only Republican in the Illinois Senate to vote in favor of Gay Marriage.

This bill now moves over to the Illinois House where it is short the votes necessary to pass.  

This is why our Defend Marriage Lobby Day on February 20th is so important!  If we hope to defeat this bill in the Illinois House and maintain a sufficient level of opposition to this proposal, we must have a strong showing next week.  Read more about this lobby day HERE.  We need you to show up and send a clear message to state lawmakers in the Illinois House that Illinoisans will NOT allow marriage to be destroyed!  We can stop this!

To see how your state senator voted, click HERE.

Take ACTION:  If you haven’t yet sent an email or a fax to your state lawmakers — it is time to speak up now!  Click HERE to let them know what you think.

Join IFI and Illinois families from around the state to take a stand for protecting marriage, religious freedom, parental rights and the innocence of our children! Plan to bring your family and friends AND organize your church to support this lobbying day to defend marriage.  

It is critically important that we have a strong showing because homosexual activists continue to press for counterfeit “marriage” (HB 110 & SB 10), which will affect our children and our religious freedom. It is also critically important that you know the Springfield addresses of your state representative and senator BEFORE arriving at the Capitol so that you can visit them.   CLICK HERE for their addresses.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

Wednesday, February 20th
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Illinois State Capitol Rotunda
401 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL  62701 (map)
Download flyer HERE.

Stop at the IFI table in the north hallway right off of
the Rotunda to pick up your buttons and papers.

Background

The chief sponsor of this anti-family legislation, State Representative Gregg Harris (D-Chicago) is on record saying that the new Illinois General Assembly is on a “fast track” to pass legislation to redefine the institution of marriage.

In addition, homosexual activists with the Civil Rights Agenda, Equality Illinois, Stonewall Democrats, Illinois Log Cabin Republicans, and the ACLU of Illinois have been pushing hard for the passage of this anti-marriage bill.

We cannot afford to ignore this situation! Illinois citizens can send a strong message by joining us at the Capitol on February 20th to rally to protect God-ordained marriage in Illinois and to lobby their legislators.  

Over the past few weeks, we have been busy contacting churches in key districts.  Thousands of religious leaders from across the state have responded, voicing their opposition to marriage redefinition to local state lawmakers.

We can stop this legislation despite the “fast track” it may be on.  We should be encouraged by the fact that recently hundreds of thousands of marriage supporters came out to demonstrate their opposition to same-sex “marriage” in Paris, France!  (Watch a YouTube video of it HERE, and read the Reuters report HERE.)

There is strong opposition to same-sex marriage here in Illinois. The establishment media would have us believe that it is only a matter of time — that marriage redefinition is inevitable. It is only inevitable if we fail to speak up and demonstrate our objection to this radical policy! 

If the secular French can see the importance of coming out to defend natural marriage — certainly the Christian community can do it.  And we must!

ACTION: Click HERE to let us know you are coming so we can have some idea of what our attendance will be.

Click HERE for a downloadable flyer for your church.

If you are not able to join us for the Defend Marriage Lobby Day you can still ask your state representative to vote ‘NO’ to HB 110 by >>>clicking HERE<<< to send him/her an email or fax.

Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

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