Elise
mentioned this earlier, but since I'm working on this campaign I wanted to let all you Kossacks and Kosbys know what's up here on the North side of Chicago. Take a look...
Please share this with anyone you know who fits into any of the following groups:
1) Is gay or has gay friends or family
2) Is straight and is living unmarried with a significant other
3) Is politically active and looking to volunteer for a very high profile campaign
4) Is a pastor or on staff of a reconciling or welcoming church
5) Is an elected official who you admire
6) Believes that God loves everybody
You may have heard about the ongoing attempt in Illinois to get an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment referendum put on the November ballot. Some nutjobs have collected enough signatures to get the referendum on the ballot, but there is one hurdle they have to overcome. The names on the petitions must be from registered Illinois voters. So, thanks to Fair Illinois, every day until the deadline of June 17 volunteers will be verifying all 345,199 names on the 64,908 pages of petitions filed. If we find, as we suspect, that at least 18% of the names are invalid, the referendum is toast. If you care about this issue at all, please help. It's easy to do, training is provided, and our office is in a truly fabulous apartment right across the street from Sidetrack.
One other note for straight folks - the amendment as written would make a one man-one woman marriage the only legally recognized union in the state. Here's what that could mean with a constitutional amendment: no domestic partnerships, no domestic abuse protections for unmarried women, no health benefits for significant others. This is not just about them hating gay people.
We're only 10% of the way through the signatures and there's less than a month left.
Will you help? Work anytime from 9AM-10PM, 7 days a week. 3342 N. Halsted, 3rd floor. No confirmation necessary. Downtown Chicago and suburban sites also available -- Check website for details. Monetary and especially coffee donations accepted. All are welcome.
Matt Kuzma
Fair Illinois
www.fairillinois.org
fairillinois@yahoo.com
3342 N. Halsted St. 3rd floor - Chicago
Open House, Thursday, May 25 5:30-8:00 PM