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Home » News » Archives » Leave No Family Behind: ACLU of Illinois and Other Groups Sponsor Discussion on Marriage Equality in Peoria, Bloomington-Normal
Leave No Family Behind: ACLU of Illinois and Other Groups Sponsor Discussion on Marriage Equality in Peoria, Bloomington-Normal **The next marriage equality town hall meeting on our schedule -- On December 2, we will be gathering at 7:00 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library, 505 South Randolph.** Gay and lesbian families from across Illinois, along with local experts concerned about protecting and strengthening all families, are joining together with the ACLU of Illinois and others to foster a dialogue aimed at exploring the obstacles and challenges faced in everyday life by same-sex couples under current Illinois marriage laws. The first program was held on Tuesday, September 14th, at the Peoria Public Library. More than seventy-five persons gathered to hear from two local couples and several local experts to discuss this important issue. The next event is scheduled for Thursday, October 7th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Normal Public Library, 206 West College Avenue in Normal. Right click here to download and save an MP3 file of a radio piece on panelists from the Bloomington-Normal discussion �We have titled this program �Leave No Family Behind� to demonstrate that our current discriminatory marriage laws have a detrimental impact upon couples and their children all across this state,� said John Knight, Director of the ACLU of Illinois Gay and Lesbian Rights Project. �We hope that participants in this event will come away with a much clearer understanding of these issues and their impact on families in Peoria and other communities.� In addition to the ACLU of Illinois, co-sponsors of the events include: Lambda Legal and Equality Illinois Planned Parenthood of Peoria, Acorn Equality Fund, the Peoria Chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Interfaith Alliance of Central Illinois, Heart of Illinois Lesbians in Friendship Together, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PLFLAG) in Peoria, the Peoria Chapter of the ACLU, the Prairie Flame, Protestants for the Common Good, People for the American Way, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Advocacy Council for Human Rights, Central Illinois Chapter of ACLU, Bloomington/Normal PFLAG, Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois, McLean County AIDS Task Force, Open Door Youth Center , McLean County Voice for Choice, Community for Social Action, Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, ISU PRIDE, and Promoting Respect through Inclusion and Diversity Efforts (PRIDE). Read the following story from the Pekin Times about the Peoria Event: Family issues focus of same-sex marriage discussion By Connie Seastedt Times correspondent PEORIA -- Cherie Jones and Kathy D'Alfonso are a same-sex couple who have been together for eight-and-a-half years. Together, they have raised Jones' biological 14-year-old daughter just as any two parents would. Despite the fact they consider themselves a family, when it comes to certain issues in their relationship, Jones and Alfonso don't share the same rights as married couples. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois took what Director of Communications Edwin Yohnka called the first steps by starting a community-based discussion on issues surrounding marriage equality, same sex marriage and the issues faced in everyday family life at Peoria's first-ever Leave No Family Behind night at the Peoria Public Library Monday night. "We are trying to put a human face on the issues same sex couples have to face and this is a way we can get together as a group to talk about these issues," Yohnka said. "The reality is, these couples are facing some major issues when it comes to raising families, buying homes and other real life circumstances. They are facing some adverse conditions." Along with a panel of experts, including Jones and D'Alfonso, professors and members of other organizations, about 60 people showed up Tuesday night to participate in the discussions by asking questions or by simply sitting back and taking everything in. Art Averill of Peoria decided to come because he said it was an important issue that he liked to keep up on. "I feel strongly about human rights and freedoms, and this is obviously a big one," Averill said. "It's time to stand up and be heard." While most in the audience were in support of change, there were some audience members who oppose same-sex marriages but who came to hear what the audience had to say. Arnold Patton, a computer science professor at Bradley University, said after he heard about the discussion, he decided to come at the last minute as a voice for the other side. "I'm just here to listen to the program but am negative about gay marriage," Patton said. "I think it's just a slippery slope. How are we going to define marriage? Are 50 people going to be able to get married and share the benefits? Will a dog soon get benefits? When is this going to stop?" Typical of the issues that confront people like Jones and D'Alfonso was highlighted during a recent incident that involved their daughter. As the biological mother, when their daughter had an asthma attack, the hospital called Jones, who couldn't be reached. The emergency contact number was D'Alfonso's, but because she wasn't a legal spouse, they could not release information to her, despite the fact that she is the other parent. "We are raising her together," D'Alfonso said, "I, too, am a parent." The couple is worried about what would happen if Jones, who has had major back surgery in the past, was someday unable to work. "How would I be able to carry insurance for both of us if there are so many restrictions because we are not legally married?" D'Alfonso asked. Despite the hardships faced, Jones and D'Alfonso said most people treat them like any other couple, including their daughters' teachers and friends' parents. "At first they ask if we are sisters, but then we explain things to them and they are fine with that," Jones said. D'Alfonso said they are not hung up on the term marriage, rather the benefits associated with marriage that they don't get. "It's time to move forward and hopefully tonight will help," D'Alfonso said. "The first step is to inform people, which is what we are doing here. We want to show people faces, not just statistics." Yohnka said while there have been some discussions such as this in the Chicago area, this is the first for Peoria. Next month one is scheduled in Bloomington with another in the works for Springfield. "Even if there are at least 50 people in the room, we are starting to build a coalition together that way and that is the first step," Yohnka said, "By having a panel of experts here we can start the beginning of a dialogue. We are concerned about this issue because the reality is, same-sex couples are facing obstacles just living in everyday life that makes it hard to maintain a normal family life. This is all about the family. It was time to take this on the road." Yohnka said the night's discussion was just the beginning of what he hopes will be a long term broadband coalition to discuss change in the current marriage laws. "There are millions of people in families of same sex couples who are getting adversely impacted from the current marriage laws," Yohnka said. "This is an opportunity to see and hear obstacles faced right here in central Illinois." |
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