Ill. REPUBLICAN PARTY STOPS
ANTI-GAY PLANKS
Equality Illinois has praised the platform committee of the Illinois Republican Party for rejecting an attempt by right-wing elements to adopt antigay planks in the party's platform.
"We commend the Illinois Republican Party for resisting the right-wing attempt to promote bigotry in the party's platform," said Rick Garcia, director of Equality Illinois. "Clearly, gay bashing is not acceptable to Illinois Republicans. Fairness and decency have triumphed over bigotry and prejudice."
Republicans in some other states have adopted antigay platforms. Last week, the Texas Republican Party adopted a platform that states "homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental unchanging truths that have been ordained by God." The Illinois platform committee rejected planks that called for opposition to gay-inclusive anti-discrimination laws and that would directly recognize marriage as between a man and a woman.
Lesson not learned?
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party in Illinois is experiencing some deja vu. Anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard is leading a local poll focusing on Democrats likely to run for governor in 2002.
Other names floated were U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich, State's Attorney Dick Devine, and John Schmidt.
To date, Glenn Poshard, with 34% of the vote, is winning the Word On the Street poll. The Democratic party experienced internal rebellion when Poshard became the party's nominee in 1998—some Democrats came out publically against Poshard because of his anti-gay voting record in Congress. Many heavily gay precincts voted for Republican Ryan in protest.
See www.wordonthestreet.net/vote. htm
In other news, Stonewall Democrats are part of an effort to get gay voters registered. Call ( 312 ) 683-5232 or SWDemsChi@aol.com for details on the "Get The Gay Vote Out" campaign.