A large protest against Illinois' equal marriage bill in Aurora April 20 turned into a peaceful showdown after LGBT people and allies staged a counter demonstration.
An estimated 450 attended the Saturday rallies, intended to sway 83rd Dist. Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, who reportedly remains undecided on the legalization of equal marriage.
But while anti-gay groups organized the demonstration against SB10, LGBT supporters turned out equal numbers and took up more space, largely drowning out the songs and prayers of opponents.
The two groups stood on opposite sides of the steps leading up to Chapa LaVia's Aurora office. On one side, equal marriage opponents prayed in a circle, sang in Spanish and held up signs declaring marriage a rite between a man and a woman.
On the other side, proponents of the bill sang, "All You Need is Love" and waved large rainbow flags.
Among those supporting the bill was Kate Purl, a constituent who said she feels her community wants equal marriage.
"I am shocked by the fact we have to be here in this district," she said.
Purl said she was surprised to learn that Chapa LaVia had received so much feedback against the bill.
Edgar Chico Bosque, another of Chapa LaVia's constituents, said he wanted to send a message to his rep. that Latinos like him support the measure.
"Being Latino, I understand she is probably looking at how Latinos would view things," he said.
But Sue Gardner, a district resident who opposes the bill, said she thought most of her neighbors wanted to see a "no" vote.
"I think the vast majority is somewhat silent," she said. "They don't really think it's going to happen."
But if anti-LGBT demonstrators wanted to pressure Chapa LaVia with numbers, they may have fallen short at the Saturday rally. So large was the crowd of equal marriage supporters that those in favor of the bill appeared to outnumber those opposed.
Anti-gay groups like the Illinois Family Institute and Americans for Truth About Homosexuality turned out more than 200 to send that message. Leading the counter protest was Illinois Unites for Marriage, a coalition of 57 groups pushing for the bill's passage.
The Illinois House could vote on the measure any day. It has already passed the Senate. Gov. Quinn has vowed to sign it into law. Recent reports suggest that sponsors of the bill are within just a few votes of the 60 they need to pass it.
Photos by Tim Carroll:
#1 Peter LaBarbera, President of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, (declared a Hate Group by Southern Poverty Law Center in 2010) is fascinated with filming Marriage Equality Ralliers
#2 Spring Rainbows for Marriage Equality.
#3 Rev. Kirk Moore and Pam Cameron express their support for Marriage Equality
#4 Civil Disagreement
#5 Scott Cross of the Springfield chapter of Organizing for Action (OFA) with his portable sound system, addresses the Marriage Equality Rally
#6 A message for Representative Chapa-Lavia
#7 Reverend Eva LaRoche addresses Marriage Equality Rally
#8 Dawn Pulgine of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Aurora addresses the Anti Marriage Equality rally
#9 Rainbow flags of tolerance oppose yellow rectangles of intolerance
#10 Anti and Pro Marriage Equality rallies share the square.
#11 Creative signage. Photo by Tim Carroll
#12 The colors of spring in Aurora. Photo by Tim Carroll
#13 Lutheran pastor Kim Beckman addresses the Marriage Equality Rally.
#14 Rev. Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Romeoville, addresses the Marriage Equality Rally
Anti Equality group fascinated with filming Marriage Equality Ralliers
Gail Schlesinger and Carolyn Fagian, married in California, hold All Love Is Equal sign
Barbara Marian and Michele Wojner of FortunateFamilies.com, a Catholic LGBT support group, hold their sign