Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: I'll 'Push' for Marriage Equality

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel promised to push for marriage equality in Illinois yesterday, the Sun-Times reports.

Said Emanuel:

“Before I was a mayor, I worked hard on the civil union legislation. I made phone calls. And when it passed, I was at Millennium Park, when we had the first [ceremony]. In fact, I presided over a series of ceremonies in my office...When you have two loving adults, that should be held up as a positive — whether it’s male-female, or, in this case, female-female or male-male. That’s proper. We shouldn’t as a state discriminate...Recognizing the love between two adults also has a series of rippling effects through a series of policies — public and private — that we all take as a given and is not true for gays and lesbian couples. So I’ll push for it because it’s consistent with the values base that I think is right as a city, as a state and as a country. ... I support both the civil union and ultimately gay marriage because I think discrimination that’s embedded deeper than just recognizing a marriage or recognizing a civil union is wrong."

Emanuel told CNN's Wolf blitzer last June that he hoped Illinois would move in the direction of marriage equality.

Illinois lawmakers introduced a marriage equality bill last week.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Says He Hopes Illinois Will Move in the Direction of Same-Sex Marriage: VIDEO

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was asked by CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview yesterday if Obama's refusal to endorse same-sex marriage was a big deal or little deal.

Emanuel refused to comment on what kind of deal Obama's position is on the issue, but stressed the progress that has been made for LGBT rights in his administration, and discussed civil unions in Illinois, noting that he hopes the Land of Lincoln would go further, perhaps the way of New York.

"It is a significant issue. I would hope that the state would move in that direction...Tremendous progress has been made across the country on a value statement and I think that's very important."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Same-Sex Couples Have 33 Civil Unions in Mass Chicago Event

(Tracy Baim-Windy City Times)

A mass civil union of 33 couples was held in Millenium Park in Chicago yesterday, the Sun-Times reports:

Several Cook County Circuit Court judges — and one minister — volunteered to preside over the individual ceremonies Thursday at the northwest corner of the park along Michigan Avenue. Wednesday was the first day the couples could get civil union licenses from the Cook County clerk’s office, but the law required a 24-hour wait before a service could take place.

Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke at the ceremony. Emanuel noted that he had presided over a civil union earlier in the day.

Watch some excellent clips from the event, AFTER THE JUMP...

Here's a fantastic gallery from Tracy Baim at the Windy City Times.

Rahm Emanuel's Inclusion of Anti-Gay Minister in Transition Team Troubles LGBT Advocates

Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has selected his transition team and it includes no gay people, which LGBT rights groups noted but said did not trouble them. What did trouble them, however, was the inclusion of Rev. Byron Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church of God.

The Windy City Times reports:

Bernard Cherkasov, chief executive director of Equality Illinois, indicated the lack of LGBT representation in Emanuel's transition team should not be a cause for alarm for the community. His organization's PAC joined a large coalition of LGBT community leaders in endorsing Emanuel's mayoral campaign last month.

"We look forward to working with the team of co-chairs to help identify the priorities for the city of Chicago, including the priorities of the LGBT community, and figure out a path to addressing them as soon as the mayor is in office," Cherkasov said.

Brazier's presence on the transition team is an eyebrow-raising choice, however. Brazier's father and the previous pastor of the Apostolic Church of God, the late Bishop Arthur, supported the Federal Marriage Amendment. Additionally, the church is affiliated with the Pentecostal movement, which generally condemns homosexuality as sinful. At press time, Brazier had not return Windy City Times' request for an interview.

Rev. Irene Monroe, coordinator of the African American Roundtable of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion, said Emanuel's selection of Brazier while not including any LGBT co-chairs was an intentional, and troubling, choice.

"It is a great concern," Monroe said. "Why that particular church when there are so many progressive churches he can choose from?

Monroe added that the inclusion of Brazier reminded her of Obama's inclusion of anti-gay leaders in his team: "I think what bothers me most about that is that progressives like Rahm and Obama don't mind taking LGBT money for their campaigns and don't mind our vote, but when it comes to full-throated advocacy, they invariably either let us down or leave us waiting like this time is never the right time for them to hit these particular issues."

Rahm Emanuel Declares Victory in Chicago Mayoral Race

Rahm Emanuel has declared victory in the Chicago mayoral race: 

Emanuel's declaration came after runner-up Gery Chico called him tonight to concede defeat.

"We've elected a mayor tonight," Chico told supporters. "I want with all of my heart for Rahm Emanuel to be successful as mayor. We need that, ladies and gentlemen."

Emanuel needed to be above the 50 percent benchmark to avoid a runoff election and six more weeks of campaigning, and he got what he needed. With 92 percent of precincts counted, Emanuel had 54.9 percent to 24.4 percent for Chico.

City Clerk Miguel del Valle had 9.4 percent and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun was at 8.7 percent.

Chicago Pride reports:

Emanuel, who was the front-runner in the Chicago mayoral race, was a favorite in Chicago's gay community.

"I think our city is an accomplished city, the LGBT community is a central part of our city," Emanuel said during a January press conference at the Center on Halsted where he announced the support of over 200 LGBT community leaders and advocates, including openly gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago).

Emanuel also picked up the endorsements of Equality Illinois PAC and the national LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign.

Watch Emanuel's victory speech, AFTER THE JUMP...

Illinois Supreme Court Rules 7-0 in Favor of Rahm Emanuel Candidacy for Chicago Mayor

The Illinois Supreme Court has put Rahm Emanuel back on the ballot:

In a 7 to 0 decision, the court Thursday said an appellate court erred in taking Emanuel off the ballot earlier in the week.

The decision means Emanuel holds onto his position as the first name on the ballot in the Feb. 22 election. Emanuel has been leading in both the polls and fund-raising in the race that includes candidates Carol Moseley Braun, Gery Chico, and Miguel del Valle. Patricia Van Pelt Watkins and William “Dock” Walls are also on the ballot.

The Supreme Court’s decision overturns an appeals court ruling Monday that knocked Emanuel off the ballot.