Daley is certainly not his father, but damn, this mornings Sun-Times reports on his support for gay marriage, but also his support for a possible San Francisco style protest with Cook County marrying gays and lesbians.
"They’re your doctors, your lawyers, your journalists, your politicians," the mayor said. "They’re someone’s son or daughter. They’re someone’s mother or father. . . . I’ve seen people of the same sex adopt children, have families. [They’re] great parents.
"Some people have a difference of opinion — that only a man and a woman can get married. But in the long run, we have to understand what they’re saying. They love each other just as much as anyone else.”
A devout Catholic, Daley scoffed at the suggestion that gay marriage would somehow undermine the institution of marriage between a man and a woman.
"Marriage has been undermined by divorce, so don’t tell me about marriage. You’re not going to lecture me about marriage. People should look at their own life and look in their own mirror. Marriage has been undermined for a number of years if you look at the facts and figures on it. Don’t blame the gay and lesbian, transgender and transsexual community. Please don’t blame them for it," he said.
Daley said he has no control over marriage licenses in Cook County. But if Orr wants to take that bold step, the mayor has no problem with it.
I’m going to put the cart before the horse too and say if Richard Daley is this far on the issue, the inevitability of gay marriage shouldn’t be questioned. There is a lot of hard work ahead to overcome obstacles in the political system, but it will happen. Already polls show younger adults in favor with most of the opposition amongst older citizens.
That said, Mr. Mayor, why don’t you twist some arms for Senate Bill 101. It’s time to guarantee housing and employment protections.
Via Atrios who shouldn’t be beating me to Chicago stories.