Lobbying for civil unions
On Wed., April 9, Equality Illinois and hundreds of volunteers went to the Capitol Building in Springfield to lobby legislators to pass the Civil Union Act introduced by State Rep. Greg Harris. I want to extend my support and appreciation for this mission. Let's hope the legislature listens and takes the message to heart.
When it comes down to it, this isn't an issue of politics. It's an issue of basic human rights and fairness. Across our state, committed gay and lesbian couples currently cannot make healthcare decisions for their partners, visit their partners in hospitals, or make arrangements for a funeral after a partner passes away. This is unacceptable.
Here in Illinois, we've made human rights and equal access under the law a priority. Throughout his administration, Gov. Blagojevich has championed the needs of the gay and lesbian community by adding the protection of sexual orientation and gender identity to hate crime and discrimination laws in our state and by extending domestic-partner benefits to all State of Illinois employees. In 2005, the governor and legislators amended the Human Rights Act and Illinois became the 15th state in the nation to extend equal protection for its gay and lesbian citizens. Now it's time we go further.
This year, Illinois has an opportunity to make history. We can be the first state in the heartland that extends fairness and equality to all of its citizens. I believe that as a state we are on the cusp of completing this mission. We need our General Assembly to take decisive action. Let your representatives know how you feel. Let them follow the lead of the Land of Lincoln—the land of equality under the law.
Rocco Claps
Director, Illinois Department of Human Rights
Chicago
Righting a Rahm
Are you as frustrated with Congressman Rahm Emanuel as I am?
He endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton ( on Bill Maher's TV show ) before Barack Obama's campaign caught fire. Now, apparently, he's backtracked and is officially 'undeclared' as a superdelegate—surprising for a leading Democrat from Obama's home state ( not to mention, from a district so heavilly in favor of Obama ) , but certainly not surprising for someone who owes much of his political career to Bill Clinton.
Emanuel is, after all, an architect ( or, at least, one of the more proficient engineers ) of Clinton-style gutter politics, so I imagine he's calculating his silence is a political wound that will heal rather than harden between now and November.
But, of course, his vote in this matter is not about him—it's about us, or, at least, the Democrats he presumably represents. I can't help but feel his silence in not endorsing Obama is essentially stifling my full voice in my party's nominating process.
I also feel Emanuel is just increasingly out of touch with our worries and wants throughout the district. Perhaps it's time for a change in more ways than one?
I've e-mailed Emanuel on all of this. Not sure if it will do any good—certainly not before Tuesday's primary ( Obama hasn't quite yet inspired that much hopefulness in me! ) —but if you wish to do the same, Emanuel's Web site is www.house.gov/emanuel/index.shtml.
Michael Burke
Chicago
