Same-Sex Marriage Opponents Organize Protest in Western Springs

Updated 2:43 p.m.

A group advocating against marriage equality plans to rally Saturday in front of State Rep. Jim Durkin’s Western Springs office over a bill winding its way through the Illinois House.

The Illinois Family Institute (IFI), a conservative nonprofit, organized the Defend Marriage Rally to support what they call “God-ordained marriage.”

Protesters are expected to gather at 3 p.m. Saturday at 915 55th St. in Western Springs.

IFI said in a post on its website that its goal Saturday is to “send a crystal clear message to Representative Durkin that the people he represents do not want this radical anti-family social experiment.” 

Although Durkin (R-Western Springs) has said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage, he said Friday that he has not yet made a decision on Senate Bill 10.

"There’s an issue regarding benefits that I’m studying that I’m going to study more," he said. "I don’t have an opinion on bill at the moment." 

Durkin voted against a bill in November 2010 authorizing civil unions.

Gov. Pat Quinn urged the House Thursday to take action on the bill legalizing same-sex marriage before breaks for the spring, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“It's time to vote,” Quinn said. “Illinois passing marriage equality into law, I think, sends a great signal to the people of our state and the people of America. So it's important to Illinois (that) the House of Representatives get going.”

IFI has organized several protests at area representatives’ offices, including one last week before State Rep. Ron Sandack, one of two Illinois Republican representatives to publicly advocate for marriage equality.

Protesters from the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network (GLN) and Civil Rights Agenda originally planned a counter protest but decided to focus instead on rallies taking place Saturday at offices of Democratic representatives.

"Mike Madigan has decided to put zero political capital behind this bill," said Andy Thayer, of GLN. "... We put it squarely in Mike Madigan’s camp and the Democratic caucus as reason this thing has not gone through yet."

A Patch reader sent photos Friday of preparations on streets near Jim Durkin’s office, including no parking signs and clusters of metal barricades.

Durkin said he will not be at his office Saturday, but he has no problem with the gatherings.

"I fully support my consituents' right to peacefully protest and exercise their First Amendment rights as long as they respect their friends and neighbors' property," he said. "That’s what our country is about." 

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