Richard Dent, Ernie Banks Among Athletes Standing For Gay Marriage
(CBS) Four former Chicago athletes have taken a stand for gay marriage in Illinois.
Ernie Banks, Richard Dent, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Brendon Ayanbadejo have all signed a letter showing support for the Religious Freedom and Marriage Act, urging state legislators in the Illinois House of Representatives to pass the bill that would allow gay marriage in Illinois.
The bill has already been approved in the Illinois Senate and has the support of Gov. Pat Quinn.
"We come from a variety of backgrounds, and we have played different sports for different teams. But one thing that binds us together is our belief in the importance of fairness and respect – in all aspects of life," an excerpt of the letter states.
The letter says that by disallowing gay marriage, we are treating homosexuals as "second-class citizens."
For the full letter, please click here.
