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NEWS & LETTERS, March 2002
Gay marriage demo
Chicago—Chanting "Gay
(Lesbian) marriage is our right! We have just begun to fight!" dozens of
protesters organized by the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network (CABN) and other groups
converged on Chicago City Hall's marriage bureau this Valentine's Day. This
year's demo was a bit larger than last year's—this is becoming an annual
event—although it was perhaps also a bit more subdued. The police presence was
thicker and nastier. The responses from the public
were interesting. One Black woman in a wedding dress said, "I'm with you!
Keep up the fight!" Her obvious generosity of spirit lit up the dark little
underground hallway where the state hides the machinery of marriage. One white
guy in a suit called us all "a bunch of idiots," but he looked like he
says that to everyone he meets. There were a number of moving
speeches including one young man from Latinos United who talked about the double
standard facing immigrants. If he were straight and got married, he would be
issued a green card and be able to stay here, but a gay person who tried to do
the same would be deported. Another speaker said "My partner and I have
been together for 11 years now. That's 22 years in heterosexual time." After the speeches and a skit
from the CABN Players, four same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses. —Gerard Emmett |
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