Coalition of Black Clergy Support Same Sex Marriage in Illinois

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, October 23, 2013

(Foreground) Rev. Dr.Delman Coates speaking at a press conference held at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington, to lend his support for same sex marriage. (Background) (L-R): Rev. Brenda Lee, Rev. Dawnn Brumfield, Dr. Donique McIntosh, Terance Miller, Min. Julian DeShazier, Rev. Dr. Eddie Kornegay, Rev. Jamie Frazier and Rev. Benjamin Reynolds.
(Foreground) Rev. Dr.Delman Coates speaking at a press conference held at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington, to lend his support for same sex marriage. (Background) (L-R): Rev. Brenda Lee, Rev. Dawnn Brumfield, Dr. Donique McIntosh, Terance Miller, Min. Julian DeShazier, Rev. Dr. Eddie Kornegay, Rev. Jamie Frazier and Rev. Benjamin Reynolds. Photo by Lee Edwards.

Several African American clergy members in Chicago and its’ suburbs came together to voice their support for the passage of same sex marriage legislation in Illinois. The clergy members stated last week at a press conference at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St., that they were speaking on behalf of their congregations.

The Ill. House of Representatives is scheduled to hold a veto session this week which means bills like, Senate Bill 10 (SB10), the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, may in fact get vetoed.

“We can’t support the civil rights for some and not the civil rights for all,” said Ill. State Rep. Christian Mitchel (Dist.-26), a chief sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, who his continued his strong support for the legislation. “This is an idea whose time has come, its 2013, it’s time.”

The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, if passed, would go into effect 30 days after becoming a law and will include the following language:

All laws of this State applicable to marriage apply equally to marriages of same-sex and different-sex couples and their children; parties to a marriage and their children, regardless of whether the marriage is of a same-sex or different-sex couple, have the same benefits, protections, and responsibilities under law.

The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act would amend the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and allow same sex couples to use parish halls or other religious facilities for solemnization or celebration of a marriage; prohibited marriages; and jurisdiction.

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act would also be amended to make changes and additions in terms of recognizing marriages and the ability to authorize the voluntary conversion of a civil union to a marriage under specified circumstances.

“This issue connects with other issues. Particularly in the African American community, when we talk about gays and lesbians and their right to marry it’s a civil right; it gives them legal protections,” said Rev. Benjamin Reynolds, Faith Coordinator, Illinois Unites for Marriage.

Reynolds was hired by Illinois Unites for Marriage to reach out to African American clergy, stated that he wanted to be part of the relationship building with other African American clergy who are just as vocal in their support of marriage equality as those who are against it.

“When you are able to connect that it can become an economic issue, when you’re able to connect that, people get it. What we are doing is denying a population of people in our communities the rights and privileges others have,” Reynolds added.

Rev. Brenda Lee, a minister at Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, and a South Side Chicago resident, has been in a relationship with her life partner, Lee, for over 10 years and stated at the press conference, “We are among those who are same gender loving couples whose desire is to care for our families through the stability, the security, and the protection under the law of marriage from the state in which we live and work.”

For information about Illinois Unites for Marriage visit http://www.illinoisunites.org/.

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