Equality Illinois Political Action Committee on Sept. 23 endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn's re-election this November.
In a statement, the organization said, "Governor Quinn's leading role in achieving first civil unions and then marriages for same-sex couples, his open and inclusive administration, and his strong support for policies that protect LGBT students from bullying and LGBT workers from discrimination make Governor Quinn the choice of Equality Illinois PAC … [which is] backing up the endorsement with an aggressive get-out-the-vote effort."
Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, elaborated further in the statement: "Governor Quinn has stood up time and again on issues important to LGBT Illinoisans and their families, from marriage to health care to anti-bullying laws. Governor Quinn is the only gubernatorial contender who unequivocally supports LGBT equality and he deserves the unequivocal support from all voters who support equal treatment for LGBT Illinoisans."
Equality Illinois PAC has this year been trying to cast light on Quinn's opponent, Bruce Rauner, calling attention to his 2013 remarks that he would have vetoed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Equality Act because he thought it was an issue that should be decided upon by a referendum, and the views of his running mate for lieutenant governor, Evelyn Sanguinetti. They have also questioned his donations from gay marriage opponents such as the DeVos family of Michigan. While not directly offering opposition to LGBT platforms himselfand in fact releasing a campaign ad Sept. 11 saying that he would 'leave the gay marriage law alone'Rauner has offered up no positive reinforcement to those platforms either, according to the organization.
Nicole Bashor, chair of Equality Illinois PAC, said in the statement that "…We, like most Illinoisans, are alarmed that [Rauner] blurs the line by saying anything in order to win this election; and with all the gains made during Gov. Quinn's time in office, Illinois cannot risk going backwards on LGBT rights. Bruce Rauner is a dangerous purveyor of empty, mealy-mouthed rhetoric, on the rare occasions he has anything to say about these issues."
According to the statement, Rauner ignored overtures from Equality Illinois to help develop a platform that does not exclude or marginalize LGBT Illinoisans.
"Bruce Rauner's refusal to support something so accepted as marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples reinforces all doubts that he would aggressively enforce laws against hate crimes and bullying. In fact, Bruce Rauner's failure to give a straight-forward answer on marriage equality continues the climate of second-class treatment for LGBT Illinoisans and their families," Bashor added.
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