Given the spate of recent same-sex marriage-related decisions ( for and against ) , it was no surprise that there was a lot of emotion among the dozens of individuals who convened at a marriage-equality forum at the J. Merlo Branch Library, 644 W. Belmont, June 9.
Panelists at the event included Nik Maciejewski and Patrick ( no surname available ) of Join the Impact-Chicago; Marc Loveless, coordinator of the local organization Coalition of Justice and Respect ( CJR ) ; and writer/activist Sherry Wolf.
Maciejewski talked about the need for organization and called for a national movement, stressing for the dispensing of the "state-by-state battle crap" that has resulted in disparities between states. He said that " [ i ] t's time for things to be federally mandated" and urged President Barack Obama to take a stand.
Maciejewski also mentioned that he talked with State Rep. Greg Harris—who sponsored the civil-union bill in the Illinois House—about getting state lawmakers to vote for marriage equality. Again, a keyword arose: organization. "The coalition needs to be organized," Maciejewski said.
Patrick read a statement on behalf of Join the Impact-Chicago's Missy Lorenzen, who wrote about strategies she learned from attending the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's recent Creating Change conference. Among the strategies discussed were reaching the "moveable middle" ( those with mostly moderate views ) , connecting with the media, targeting specific legislators and avoiding negative messages.
Loveless said that CJR got involved in the civil-union/marriage movement in 2008, when the organization saw it as a healthcare issue ( "People in couples reduce the number of sex partners and STIs [ sexually transmitted infections ] " ) . He also cited Loving v. Virginia—which revolved around interracial marriage—as being pivotal for CJR, saying that the case's concepts of due process and equal protection also had bearing regarding marriage equality. Loveless added that CJR has an online petition ( at www.cjrchicago.net ) and will initiative a drive at various events this summer, including both Black Prides.
However, despite the passions that the previous speakers exhibited, it was Wolf who stirred the audience more than anyone else. Wolf—an associate editor at the International Socialist Review—warned against marriage-equality organizers getting complacent and thinking that "equal marriage will somehow sweep the land." She quickly added that LGBT individuals are "legal strangers to the federal government, even in the six states where marriage is legal."
Wolf staunchly advocated organized activism, and garnered applause when she said, "We need to bring Stonewall back to the parade. It didn't start off being sponsored by Miller Beer."
She also said that she finds the state's civil-union bill's language "embarrassing." Referring to Section 15 of House Bill 2234—which states "Any religious body, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose whether or not to solemnize or officiate a civil union"—Wolf said that "no one's ever been forced to officiate at an event he didn't want [ to do so ] " and added that the measure's "wording is a concession to right-wing bigots."
Lastly, like Maciejewski, Wolf called for "the need to mobilize and put [ this subject ] at the foot of Congress. ... Enough is enough. This is bullshit now."
Equality Illinois and Allied for Equality sponsored the forum.