Rep. Pihos should risk losing job by supporting gay marriage in Illinois
"I'm willing to lose my job over this issue. But I won't go down without a fight."
My Illinois state representative Sandy Pihos (R-48) didn't say that but she should have. Instead, it was the more morally and politically courageous Illinois House Republican Ed Sullivan of Mundelein who favors same sex marriage in spite of being challenged in the March 18, 2014 Primary because of his support of gay marriage.
Pihos is also being challenged in the Primary by Lombard Village Trustee Peter Breen. Breen moonlights as Vice President and senior counsel for the ultraconservative and religious Thomas More Society which vigorously opposes gay marriage through legal challenges against gays filing challenges to this disgraceful relic of second class citizenship. That is disgusting. If there were a God he'd shun the bigots in the Thomas More Society like the plague. So far Breen doesn't have gay marriage as a campaign issue against Pihos since she's on record as a NO vote when the issue is called. Is she a homophobe or a bigot who opposes gay marriage on specious moral or religious grounds? Of course not. She is a smart politician who wants to survive the Republican Primary where the turnout may not reflect the overall and inexorable march to granting gays full civil rights. So she relies on the old "I must respect the majority of my district which opposes gay marriage" refrain. The answer to Pihos and similarly minded legislators is the same as for legislators in the South who voted with the majority against granting civil rights to blacks: CIVIL RIGHTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO MAJORITY RULE. The time has come for her to join groundswell supporting marriage equality across the land. New Jersey legalized it last week and a court ruling is expected shortly to make New Mexico state number fifteen.
Every legislator must leave office someday, either by choice or an unforeseen event such as losing an election. Rep. Sullivan has looked into his heart and soul and determined that it is better to do the right thing by his second class constituents, indeed his second class fellow man, than sacrifice decency and principle to ensure one more turn at the noble position of legislator. If he loses the Primary over gay marriage he can walk out of Springfield with his head high and his legislative legacy in tact. As a humanist and eternal optimist, I believe Rep. Sullivan will survive his Primary challenge and continue to serve 100% of his constituents with distinction. He is on the right side of history. I'd like to say the same about my representative Sandy Pihos.
My Illinois state representative Sandy Pihos (R-48) didn't say that but she should have. Instead, it was the more morally and politically courageous Illinois House Republican Ed Sullivan of Mundelein who favors same sex marriage in spite of being challenged in the March 18, 2014 Primary because of his support of gay marriage.
Pihos is also being challenged in the Primary by Lombard Village Trustee Peter Breen. Breen moonlights as Vice President and senior counsel for the ultraconservative and religious Thomas More Society which vigorously opposes gay marriage through legal challenges against gays filing challenges to this disgraceful relic of second class citizenship. That is disgusting. If there were a God he'd shun the bigots in the Thomas More Society like the plague. So far Breen doesn't have gay marriage as a campaign issue against Pihos since she's on record as a NO vote when the issue is called. Is she a homophobe or a bigot who opposes gay marriage on specious moral or religious grounds? Of course not. She is a smart politician who wants to survive the Republican Primary where the turnout may not reflect the overall and inexorable march to granting gays full civil rights. So she relies on the old "I must respect the majority of my district which opposes gay marriage" refrain. The answer to Pihos and similarly minded legislators is the same as for legislators in the South who voted with the majority against granting civil rights to blacks: CIVIL RIGHTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO MAJORITY RULE. The time has come for her to join groundswell supporting marriage equality across the land. New Jersey legalized it last week and a court ruling is expected shortly to make New Mexico state number fifteen.
Every legislator must leave office someday, either by choice or an unforeseen event such as losing an election. Rep. Sullivan has looked into his heart and soul and determined that it is better to do the right thing by his second class constituents, indeed his second class fellow man, than sacrifice decency and principle to ensure one more turn at the noble position of legislator. If he loses the Primary over gay marriage he can walk out of Springfield with his head high and his legislative legacy in tact. As a humanist and eternal optimist, I believe Rep. Sullivan will survive his Primary challenge and continue to serve 100% of his constituents with distinction. He is on the right side of history. I'd like to say the same about my representative Sandy Pihos.
posted by Walt Zlotow at 7:20 PM
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