Gay Marriage Opponents Rally in Springfield

"Defend Marriage Lobby Day" event is sponsored by the Illinois Family Institute

Opponents of gay marriage legislation held a rally and prayer service in Springfield on Wednesday to lobby lawmakers to vote against the legislation.

The "Defend Marriage Lobby Day" event is sponsored by the Illinois Family Institute. It follows Tuesday's "March on Springfield" event held by gay marriage supporters.

The event kicked off at 9 a.m. with a prayer rally at the Lincoln Statue, followed by a rally in the capitol rotunda at 11 a.m. A "Jericho walk" around the building was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Monsignor Carl Kemme of the Springfield's Roman Catholic Diocese is slated to be one of the featured speakers. Various churches from across the state are chartering buses to take gay marriage opponents to the event.

Same-sex marriage legislation passed the state Senate in February but has not been called in the House. Gay marriage activists have said they're a handful of votes short.

Democrated Gov. Pat Quinn signed Illinois' civil unions law in 2011. At least 13 states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage. New Jersey's first gay marriages just began Monday.

 

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