Monday, April 1, 2013
Cook County Clerk David Orr's lawyers filed a brief in defense of a lawsuit attempting to overthrow the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office is taking a stance against opponents of same-sex marriage. On Monday, Clerk Orr's lawyers filed a brief in opposition to a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Illinois' same-sex marriage ban. Orr was the original defendant in the suit to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage: Darby v. Orr. However, the longtime equal rights advocate, along with Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, refused to defend the state ban, the Chicago Phoenix reports. Instead, Orr sided with the 25 plaintiffs across the state—from Evanston to Rock Island, Hyde Park to Alto Pass—who were denied marriage licenses. As a result, downstate County Clerks Kerry Hirtzel and …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The bill to legalize same sex marriage has stirred a debate among legislators on both sides of the aisle.
While only one Senate Republican voted in favor of the same sex marriage bill that gained approval of the Illinois Senate, Rep. Renée Kosel, R-New Lenox, foresees significant debate in the House of Representatives. "It's a bipartisan issue. I'm not supporting it," she said, but the bill has advocates on both sides of the aisle. "I haven't done a head count, but it's close," said Kosel, who represents the 37th District, serving all or portions of New Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort, Tinley Park and Orland Park. Personally, Kosel said the bill runs counter to her faith. At the same time, what concerns her is how the bill would affect religious organizations. The legislation becomes problematic in regard to the religious liberty of church …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
In the wake of a gay marriage statement by Chick-fil-A president and while mayors in Boston and San Francisco were telling the company to open elsewhere, a massive crowd showed Wednesday to support the branch that's nearest to Tinley Park.
The wait just to get up to the front door of Orland Park's Chick-fil-A was two hours Wednesday afternoon and a line of eager customers wound around the parking lot. “I like their view on marriage and I believe we should have the freedom to at least express our views on it,” said Susan Soulian, who drove an hour from Wilmington to wait in the long line. “That’s all they did. You can’t let a business not set up because of a different viewpoint.” Soulian was among a steady flow of people numbering in the thousands who stopped at the franchise throughout Wednesday, to show support after public officials denounced the company’s stance against gay marriage. The fallout, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s own statement that the company’s …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
The south suburban reaction to the president's endorsement of gay marriage sets off a wide-ranging debate on civil rights and religion.
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Sunday, May 13, 2012
In response to the South Suburban Patch network's Do You Support Gay Marriage? poll, several Patch commenters opened up a debate. Grunty, from Oak Lawn Patch, writes: "You can't make gay marriage illegal because it's a sin. ... What about the rest of the sins that are currently not illegal? Gluttony is a perfect example. If gay marriage is going to be illegal on the grounds of it being a sin, then it should be illegal to be overweight." Pat, from Homewood-Flossmoor Patch, writes: "I believe in small government. I believe government should stay out of our bedrooms and out of our decisions over our own bodies. I believe that without choice there is no freedom. I believe every person should have the right to choose." Bonnie Bell, from Oak …
The president and vice president are on the same side of a divisive issue, but they might differ on their own partnership.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
In light of President Barack Obama's recent announcement supporting gay marriage and a story that has generated a lot of chatter, we want to hear what you think. Take a moment to vote in our poll.
It's no secret that President Barack Obama has proclaimed his support for same-sex marriage. It was a move—one made during an interview with ABC News that aired in part on Wednesday—that conjured a mixed reaction from those in the Southland. READ: Taking Heart and Umbrage at Obama's Stance on Same-Sex Marriage Chicago Heights resident Zhenya Krassitchkova said the proclamation was like a "breath of fresh air for the gay community." The 29-year-old entered into a civil union with her longtime girlfriend, Marina Bassett, almost one year ago when Illinois became the sixth state in the United States to issue licenses joining any two non-married adults. U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. also applauded Obama's announcement. "I want to congratulate …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Southland residents reacted Thursday—some positively, some negatively—to President Obama's public support for gay marriage. What do you think?
President Barack Obama's public backing of gay marriage met a mixed reaction Thursday in the south suburbs. Obama said during a recent ABC news interview that he personally supports same-sex marriage, noting that he "already made a decision that we were going to take this position before the election and before the convention." In doing so, he became the first sitting president to publicly support the union. "I've just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," Obama told ABC's Good Morning America. Chicago Heights resident Zhenya Krassitchkova said the proclamation was like a "breath of fresh air for the gay community." "It's obviously …
Bob
2:39 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2013
Yeah, SURE Baba! Gee, how many times has he filed complaints and had DEM voter frauds arrested and prosecuted since he's been in office?LOL Few if ANY! Unless you think the corrupt Dem machines are clean as the driven snow on election day, let's just say some of the most agregious voter fruad in the nation is "protected" by Orr and Anita "What publc fraud and corruption?" Alvarez!   more ›