Harris Brings the Fight for Same-Sex Marriage to Illinois

By: James McClister

All over the country, select politicians have been fighting for the rights of homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered; and more specifically, their right to marry. At the head of this movement in Illinois is openly gay State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) who has recently announced his intention to propose the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act which would “provide eligible same-sex and opposite-sex couples with the same treatment as those in a civil marriage.”

Rebounding from the failure of his 2007 Civil Union Bill, the Chicagoan representative is back with an even bigger and an admittedly more difficult goal. During a phone conversation Rep. Harris legitimized my concerns that it is unlikely that he will get full support for his Act; however, if after a roll call for support he feels that the Act has the stench of inevitable failure he will purpose, once again, his Civil Union Bill. Rep. Harris has assured full confidence that his Civil Union Bill will be accepted and passed, if in fact he is forced to go that route.

The obvious question at this point is, why does Rep. Harris have full confidence in his Bill, one which was rejected only two years ago; how does he intend to rally support? Rep. Harris was quick to respond, with an unfaltering confidence, that he is taking advantage of our generations most versatile communications tool…the internet.

Rep. Harris informed me that he is gaining support through internet organizing. As a part of a larger plan, he is milking the booming popularity of Facebook.com in his group “Illinois Students for Marriage Equality Bill” where he boasted a robust 13,000 supporters; however, upon research it was discovered that the group had only 9,602 members, a none-the-less impressive number.

It is exciting to finally see the publicized fights for gay rights come to the heartland. And hopefully, with the support of students and the media, Rep. Harris will not have to settle for his Civil Union Bill.