Not unexpectedly, the gay marriage bill seems likely to move through committee today and to a floor vote tomorrow. As pro-family forces attempt to rally the grassroots to voice their opposition, the growng question seems to be which Republican(s) might break with the GOP's traditional stance on the issue and vote in favor of the bill.
Sources reported that Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady has been making calls to legislators in support of the gay marriage bill. When asked, Brady told Illinois Review that he believes it is an "equality issue", and that the "true conservative position is in favor" of allowing gay marriage.
He also made it clear that this is his personal view only, and not in his role as Chairman of the ILGOP.
The bill presents a problem for Illinois Republicans in that voting in favor would not only be unpopular with the Party's base, but would seem to be in contradiction to it's platform, which states:
- ...The ideal environment for children is within a two‐parent family based on the principle of marriage between one man and one woman. The Republican Party endorses a constitutional amendment protecting our Defense of Marriage Act and enshrining in constitutional law marriage as it is defined in “DOMA.”
- Our laws should strongly support and celebrate the loving commitment a man and a woman make to each other in marriage. ...No law should undermine the importance of that union, divide that union nor unduly burden the efforts of parents to rear a family in a safe and nurturing environment.
Stay tuned...
