Gay Rights Activists Protest Outside House Speaker Madigan's Office
CHICAGO (CBS) --About 40 gay rights activists were out in the rain Saturday, picketing in front of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's southwest side Chicago office, demanding a vote in the House on same-sex marriage, reports WBBM's Bob Roberts.
Gay Rights Activists Protest Outside House Speaker Madigan's Office
Organizer Andy Thayer said that sponsoring State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) deserves blame for promising final approval of a same-sex marriage bill that he could not deliver. But he said the vast majority of the fault belongs to Madigan, and said the Speaker caved to opposition from Francis Cardinal George and other anti-gay activists.
"We were put behind the pension bill and any number of other bills," Thayer said. "And when they failed to pass then we were left standing."
Thayer said if Madigan truly wanted to obtain passage of the bill, he would tell fellow Democratic lawmakers how to vote and that would be it. He said if the measure remains in limbo, or is rejected, activists won't forget it at the polls, especially if Madigan's daughter, Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan,were to run for governor.
