A number of politicians and community leaders from Chicago's Latino community came together the morning of Oct. 21 to lend their support to the legislation that would bring same-sex marriage equality to Illinois.
Among those present at the press conference at Mujeres Latinas en Accion, 2124 W. 21st Pl., were Ald. Danny Solis, state Rep. Toni Berrios; Director of the Office of New Americans for the State of Illinois, Teresa Reyes; and Commissioner of Human Relations for the City of Chicago, Mona Noriega. Representatives from Association of Latino Men for Action ( ALMA ), Mujeres Latinas en Accion and United Latino Pride, among other organizations, were also on hand.
Julio Rodriguez, president of ALMA, said, "we firmly believe that it is time. I have been with my partner now almost 17 years and I'm 54. ...With many of my friends getting married, many of them with children, I realize that it's not just about being a couple, it's about being a family."
Mujeres Latinas en Accion president and CEO Maria Pesqueira added that the bill's significance to Latino families dictated her organization's support. "Our mission is to empower Latinas and their families. Marriage equality in Ilinois is important to our families and will continue to be."
"It's embarrassing to know that the Senate passed this bill back in February, and the House can't get it passed yet," Berrios added. "I have talked to my old colleagues, and asked, What is going on? Latinos have stood strongly on human rights issues and this—keeping families together—it's human rights."
"We know that the state is also losing revenue," she said. "We know that same-sex couples are going to other states that have marriage equality already. I have two girlfriends who just got married; they went to another state. ...That's why I think the time is now and that we have to get this passed."
Solis, who is chair of the Latino Caucus on the City Council, voiced the Caucus' support. "When you really think about it, and you're talking about fairness, justice and equality, so people's families can have the right to commit and to love each other, it's an oxymoron that we really don't have that law right now in the State of Illinois, especially since it has been, I believe, the most progressive state in the country in recognizing the rights of immigrants."
He also noted that Latina lesbian couples are raising children at three times the rate of white lesbian couples and that recent polls show that the majority of Latinos are supportive of marriage equality.
"As a longtime supporter of immigrant rights, I believe that gay and lesbian couples should now have that same opportunity to commit to each other and be happy in their lives," said Solis.
Noriega said that current marriage laws exclude and discriminate against same-sex couples "who pay taxes, fight for their country and work to raise their family just like any other family."
"Looking back, we often laugh at old notions," she added. "Are children are going to look back and say, 'What was the big deal?'"
Rocio Guerrero and Jessica Carillo, who have been together for seven years and got engaged in June, discussed how important marriage was to them, and why they'd be taking part in the March on Springfield Oct. 22.
"I thought this was the perfect time to ask the question, Why or why not? Why not now?" Guerrero said, "We met seven years ago through friends. Our friendship evolved into a wonderful relationship. She's the person I laugh with. She's the person I cry with. ...One day I want my children to be able to say, 'This is my family—this is my family the world recognizes.'"