Posted on 03/05/2004 7:18:11 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
As same-sex marriages continue to be performed in the other parts of the country, Chicago activists plan to push the issue here. Alderman Dick Mell's daughter, Deborah Mell, was arrested on Thursday during a midday protest. She is also Governor Rod Blagojevich's sister-in-law. Mell, a lesbian, wants equal rights for same-sex couples.
"I just feel like I want to do what I can, you know, and since I have this powerful family, we can talk about it and bring it out more," said Deborah Mell. "Because I feel that that is a way to publicize this whole situation."
Mayor Richard Daley announced earlier this month he supports gay marriages. Cook County Clerk David Orr, who grants Chicago marriage licenses, said the gay community can count on his support on the issue. But, he said that state law prohibits him from issuing marriage licenses for same sex couples.
"State law prohibits issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples," said David Orr, Cook County clerk.
President bush has proposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages.
"And the president stepped out, in this case, Mr. Bush stepped out and started that in his inaugural address to satisfy the radical right and then he stepped further by offering a constitutional amendment. I don't even know if he cares about winning that," said Orr.
Mell says this issue is not going to go away and she intends to continue protesting.
"This is an issue that is not going to go away and this is an issue that is going to happen actually in this country," said Mell.
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