Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tells Supporters to Pressure Illinois Lawmakers on Marriage Equality

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pressing his supporters to turn up the heat on lawmakers in Springfield ahead of an anticipated vote on marriage equality by the Illinois House, the Sun-Times reports:

In an email to the vast network of supporters he created during the mayoral campaign, Emanuel created a vehicle for gay marriage proponents to pressure their state representatives with the click of a mouse.

“The clock is ticking. The House is poised to vote…in the coming days. And I know from talking with several of my friends in Springfield that some members of the House still haven’t decided which way they’ll vote,” Emanuel wrote in a personalized email to supporters Monday.

“If we’re going to pass this bill, it’s crucial that members of the House hear from marriage supporters every single day until the freedom to marry becomes law in Illinois.” ...

... “It’s time for the laws of our state to reflect the values of our people. It’s time for Illinois to take the lead,” the mayor wrote.

“Real change happens when citizens stand strong, tell their stories and urge their lawmakers to do what’s right….What happens in the next week is up to you. Let’s do what it takes to bring home a victory for the thousands of Illinois families who are counting on us right now.”

Emanuel's email comes amid reports that supporters are still looking for the votes needed to pass the bill in the House. On Friday, Chicago magazine published an article indicating where the votes stand.

Find out how to contact Illinois legislators HERE.

(inset: a social media image created by Emanuel's office shortly after the Senate passed the marriage equality bill on Valentine's Day)

Crain's: Half of Illinoisans Back Marriage Equality

As Illinoisans wait for the House to take up the marriage equality bill recently passed by the Senate, a new poll is out from Crain's/Ipsos:

The survey of 600 adults found that 50 percent support the gay-marriage bill that cleared the state Senate last week and now awaits action in the House. That's considerably more than the 29 percent who oppose it, with 20 percent saying they don't know or have mixed feelings on the matter.

As expected, support is strongest in Chicago, with 56 percent backing passage. A majority of 52 percent of suburban residents supports approval, but support drops to a plurality of 48 percent downstate.

The on-line survey had an accuracy rate of plus or minus 4.7 percent statewide, with wider ranges for numbers specific to Chicago or its suburbs.

Play Turns Spotlight On Discrimination Against Gays, People With Disabilities: VIDEO

From the horrid sarcasm coming from the Alaska GOP to the hateful salesmanship in France, this morning's news has been a bit of a bummer. To pick us all up a bit, here's a story from Chicago about a play, Teddy Ferrara, dedicated to fighting the discrimination faced by both gay people and people with physical disabilities.

From Chicago's ABC-7:

Chris Imbrosciano, 28, plays Jay, a gay student in a wheelchair.

"He's very involved in university issues,' said Chris. "He is really sort of always searching for the truth about this incident that happens on campus that sort of sends everyone's life into a tailspin."

Chris, a professional actor, has cerebral palsy.

"It affects my gate. It affects my walking. It's visible in a limp, and that's pretty much it," he said.

Chris has been acting for a number of years.

"They found me through a nonprofit in New York City called Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts that sort of serves as a database for performers with disabilities," said Chris.

"Teddy Ferrara" director Evan Cabnet says playwright Christopher Shinn's goal was to address issues of a group of students dealing with coming of age.

"They become adults as they leave home and involved themselves in university life with different and more complicated -- not problems necessarily -- but challenges to overcome," Evan said.

Watch video of Karen Meyer's report AFTER THE JUMP.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Valentine Celebrating the Illinois Senate's Passage of Marriage Equality: PHOTO

Created by the Mayor's office.

Three Charged with Anti-Gay Hate Crime in the Chicago Suburbs

Three people have been charged with aggravated battery and mob action as a hate crime in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles after Susan Patton, the woman pictured above threw a drink in another woman's face at a bar and the altercation continued after the woman targeted with the drink left with her two friends, the Chicago Tribune reports:

As the group of three walked across a parking lot, a grey Mazda pulled up to them and stopped, witnesses reported. Patton got out of the car and again confronted the woman, police said. When the woman's two male friends stepped in front of her, Patton struck them, police said.

Bolt and Miner then got out of the car and joined Patton in punching and kicking the two men, "while taunting them for being gay," police said. One of the men was able to call 911 on his cell phone, causing Patton, Bolt and Miner to get back in the car and drive away, police said.

Police said a fourth person was also present during the incident and could face charges as the investigation continues.

Arrested were Patton, Stephan Bolt, and Christopher Miner, who remains in custody. Patton and Bolt are free on $3,000 bond.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Says 'Time is Now' for Marriage Equality, Calls it One of Top Priorities: VIDEO

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he plans to be very involved with the legislative passage of marriage equality in Illinois and at a news conference today called pushing for it one of his top priorities.

Said Emanuel: "I've been in touch with leaders, including State Representative Greg Harris, State Representative Deb Mell and leaders in both chambers, so Illinois will now take the next step in making sure that our values are reflected in our laws."

Emanuel said it was near the top of his list of legislative priorities he'd like to see happen in Springfield:

"One is retirement security and pension reform so we can give taxpayers and the public employees retirement security, which is something we can't say today," Emanuel told reporters during a visit to Austin Polytechnical Academy High School to announce an investment in the school's manufacturing program. "Two, I was advocating, as have other people for 25 years, a casino for the city of Chicago, but one in which I've committed [that] all the resources will go into school modernization and building new schools and modernizing our schools so our kids will have the best facilities to learn in. Third, I will continue to advocate, as I have since a congressman, that we also pass marriage equality and end the discrimination on the books."

Watch ABC7's report on Emanuel's marriage equality statement, AFTER THE JUMP...