A group that lobbies for special rights for homosexuals is fighting hard to make Illinois the next state to legalize homosexual "marriage." But as one conservative reports, the fight to preserve traditional marriage is also on.
Human Rights Campaign proponents have been emboldened by victories for homosexual marriage in other states and have decided to push for legalization in Illinois. But David Smith of the Illinois Family Institute does not believe they have a chance, in light of the state's approval of civil unions two years ago.
"I think it's a little bit of an overreach. In fact, I've challenged the sponsor of the bill," Smith reports. "If he's so confident that the people of Illinois want same-sex marriage, then why doesn't he put it on the ballot and let the people decide?"
Meanwhile, he says the public does not seem to support the destruction of marriage.
"The general public in Illinois rejects the idea of redefining God's institution of marriage. Marriage is one man, one woman -- Always has been. Always will be," the Institute spokesman contends. "It's almost as silly as proposing that we change the definition of triangles to circular. There is no such thing as round triangles. There is no such thing as same-sex marriage."
Only 250 of the thousands of priests, pastors and rabbis in Illinois have endorsed homosexual marriage. Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union have a lawsuit filed in Cook County Court in an attempt to overturn the state's Defense of Marriage Act, which makes traditional marriage the only legal definition.