Andrea Zopp—who is running against U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth to be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate—has attacked Duckworth for having an inconsistent stance on same-sex marriage.
During her unsuccessful 2006 bid for Congress, Duckworth said that she did not support legalizing same-sex marriage, but also would not support a constitutional ban on it, either. In recent years, Duckworth's stand on marriage equality has softened.
Zopp, who previously headed the Chicago Urban League, told Windy City Times that looking at Duckworth's stance was "pertinent because it's an example of the differences between us—the pertinent question in 2006 was, 'Are you going to lead, or are you going to wait until you see which way the winds are blowing?'"
Zopp was active in the push for marriage equality in the state while at the Urban League, and committed many of that organization's resources to help with lobbying efforts in Springfield. She said, "I'm glad [Duckworth] changed her mind, but voters have a choice, and there are lots of politicians who wait to make the tougher calls." She also said that she would make passage of the federal Equality Act a priority should she be elected.
"We have to make sure that we we're addressing inequality for everyone, particularly for young LGBT people and young LGBT people of color," Zopp added.
Duckworth could not be reached for comment, but campaign spokesman Matt McGrath said in a statement: "Tammy's leadership on this issue is clear. She opposed a ban on same-sex marriage in 2006, and like the President has evolved further over the years into being a national leader on human rights and equality issues."
McGrath also forwarded a statement from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore in support of Duckworth.
"I'm supporting Tammy Duckworth not only because she supports issues like a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act that includes our transgender sisters and brothers, not only because she has been a fierce advocate for women and the middle class, but because I believe she has the best chance to defeat Mark Kirk," said Shore.
Shortly before the June 28, 2015, Chicago Pride Parade—held a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage for all states—Duckworth told Windy City Times, "This is a day of love. I'm glad love won out and civil liberties won out—the only thing that is kind of a downside is that it took the United States so long to get here."
