Chicago-based daily deal website Groupon has jumped into the fray in the fight for Illinois marriage equality.
The company has released a video ad, pushing for the passage of equal marriage and has announced that it will bus employees to a march in support of same-sex marriage in Springfield Oct. 22.
The video, which features employees talking about their support for marriage equality, argues that "It's time," for Illinois to pass the bill.
"We are a stronger company and community when every one of our friends and colleagues has the opportunity to have an equally-valued relationship with the person whom they love and support."
The ad directs viewers to the website for Illinois Unites for Marriage, a coalition of groups pushing the bill.
Groupon has been public about its support for SB 10, a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois, since February when it signed on to an Illinois Unites for Marriage letter calling for the bill's passage.
Kyle Klatt, co-chair of the company's Pride at Groupon resource group, said that the group wanted to take that support a step further.
"Our goal is to get more companies to sign on to the coalition and to engage their employees," Klatt said.
Groupon is also stepping up company efforts to pass the bill, Klatt said. The company is setting up a marriage phone bank internally, to make it easier for employees to volunteer support.
Klatt added that employees who support equal marriage were asked to wear red to work one day, and a majority of employees, including senior management, participated.
Employees will also have the option of going to the state capitol Oct. 22 for a "March on Springfield," scheduled to show support for marriage equality. Klatt said that Groupon will be providing at least one bus to the march.
Efforts to pass Illinois marriage equality fell short in the spring. Now, advocates are hoping that the fall veto session could provide a short window to pass the bill.
The Groupon video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIvz40H_Cq0&feature=youtu.be.
Disclosure: Windy City Times Publisher Tracy Baim is an organizer of the March on Springfield.
Also see: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Groupon-has-marriage-equality-video-March-on-Springfield-bus/44088.html .
