"Joy and pleasure are as real as pain and sorrow and one must learn what they have to teach. . . ." -- Sean Russell, from Gatherer of Clouds

"If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." -- Helyn D. Goldenberg

"I love you and I'm not afraid." -- Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

“If I hear ‘not allowed’ much oftener,” said Sam, “I’m going to get angry.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien, from Lord of the Rings

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Another Marriage Blog

The nutfudges, in the form of Peter "Boys' Night Out" LaBarbera's Illinois Family Institute and its allies, have turned in their petitions for an advisory referendum on a same-sex marriage amendment to the Illinois Constitution. (More than required by law, but far short of the half-million they were aiming for.) Two amendments introduced in the Legislature have died in committee, and polls consistently show that 70% of Illinois voters are against amending the constitution on this issue. (That's about the same percentage that voted against the wingnuts' "values" candidate, Alan Keyes, in the last Senate election.)

Anyone but LaBarbera would figure it out. He doesn't quite get that foaming-at-the-mouth bigotry doesn't play here since the days of the late and not particularly lamented Penny Pullen. He also thinks that people are buying his description of his trips to leather bars as "for research." Mmmm, yeah. OK.

Opponents of the referendum are, of course, getting ready to review and check the signatures. Considering the record of fraud on signature gathering in Massachusetts, Arizona, and California, it's probably a good idea. If you're in Illinois and want to volunteer, contact Equality Illinois. You can sign up by emailing fairillinois@yahoo.com or call Equality Illinois at (773) 477-7173 or (888) 434-7888.

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