Gov. Quinn, Lt. Gov. Simon, & Comptroller Topinka to participate in March on Springfield for March on Equality. Statewide officers will join thousands of fellow Illinoisans pushing the Illinois House to pass marriage equality during the fall veto session
CHICAGO — Organizers of the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality announced today that Governor Pat Quinn ( D ) will open the rally on October 22 with a welcome to the thousands of Illinoisans traveling there to call for passage of marriage equality in Illinois.
Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon ( D ) and Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka ( R ) confirmed they will also join the rally to show their support for marriage equality.
The March on Springfield for Marriage Equality will get underway at Noon on Tuesday, October 22, 2013, with a free one-hour concert. The 90-minute rally will begin with welcoming remarks by Gov. Quinn at 1 pm. A march around the Capitol will begin at 2:30 pm. Up to 5,000 people are expected to attend from all over Illinois.
About the March
The March on Springfield for Marriage Equality will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, the scheduled first day of the fall veto session of the Illinois state legislature. The "March on Springfield" is part of a broad grassroots strategy to secure final passage of Senate Bill 10, the "Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act," already approved by the Illinois Senate. Once adopted, Illinois will become the 14th state plus the District of Columbia, to treat all of its citizens equally under state marriage laws, and all married people in Illinois will be treated equally under federal law. For more information, visit www.MarchOnSpringfield.org, or find the March at Facebook.com/MarchOnSpringfieldForMarriageEquality or on Twitter @IllinoisMarches.
Note for Media:
Resources for media will be available at the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, including a riser for television cameras, electricity & internet access, a media tent for quiet interviews, and a list of speakers, families, politicians and activists who will be available for interviews. Access to the riser and tent will require a media credential, provided to media representatives at the rally. Full information will be distributed via email by October 15, and will be available at www.marchonspringfield.org/media.php.