A second anti-gay organization has filed to intervene against two Cook County lawsuits seeking to overturn the state's same-sex marriage ban.
The Illinois Family Institute (IFI), known throughout the country for it's anti-gay activism, is seeking to enter the case in support of the ban.
The Carol Stream-based organization argues that it has an interest in the case because it invested time, money and energy into the passage of the ban on same-sex marriage.
"IFI represents a significant constituency of thousands of Illinois citizens who care deeply about the preservation of traditional marriage… Since its founding in 1992, IFI has labored tirelessly to uphold, affirm, and defend traditional marriage in Illinois," the motion states.
IFI is the second group to seek intervention in the cases, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and Lambda Legal against Cook County Clerk David Orr. Orr, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and Attorney General Lisa Madigan have refused to defend the marriage ban, stating that they believe it is unconstitutional.
Representing two downstate clerks, the Thomas More Society law firm has already been granted intervenor status in the case after their motion went unchallenged by the ACLU and Lambda Legal.
Both organizations have vowed to fight the IFI motion, however.
"There are already parties in this case who are committed to defending the marriage ban," said Camilla Taylor, the attorney on the case for Lambda Legal. "This is a radical hate group with extremist views about lesbian and gay people, and they have no standing to intervene in this case. Just because you have a strong personal opinion doesn't give you the right to intervene in someone else's lawsuit."
John Knight of the ACLU contended that IFI will not suffer injury if same-sex couples are allowed to marry in Illinois and therefore have no stake in the case.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks discriminatory organizations, has classified IFI as an anti-gay hate group.
IFI and the organization's attorney did respond immediately to a request to comment.