RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, was reintroduced into the Illinois General Assembly on January 10, 2013 by Representative Greg Harris and Senator Heather Steans; and
WHEREAS, the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act seeks to allow same-sex couples the right of legalized marriage in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, due to progressive forces of change, our society has experienced an increased tolerance and acceptance of same-sex couples that in times past would have resulted in severe marginalization; and
WHEREAS, same-sex couples should be afforded the equal right to marriage under the law; and
WHEREAS, in January of 2011, the Illinois General Assembly approved civil unions by same-sex couples, with the law taking effect on June 1, 2011; and
WHEREAS, many business leaders from diverse industries such as financial planning, energy, manufacturing, advertising, and publishing agree that recognizing same-sex marriage would provide the City of Chicago and State of Illinois with increased economic advantage; and
WHEREAS, currently the states of New York, Washington, Massachusetts, and Maryland have legalized same-sex marriage, and have widely benefited from this action both socially and economically; and
WHEREAS, in the Midwest, Iowa is currently the only state to have recognized same-sex marriage; and the state of Minnesota currently has legislation pending before its state legislature; and
WHEREAS, legalizing same-sex marriage would attract a global workforce to Illinois and help strengthen our local business community; and
WHEREAS, according to research compiled by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, the legalization of same-sex marriage would generate between $39 and $72 million dollars in revenue for Illinois businesses and bring an additional $4.5 million to $8 million dollars in new sales and lodging tax revenues over the next three years; and
WHEREAS, the family unit, no matter what its make up, is the strength of our society, and approval of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Act would further strengthen the bonds of all families in our great state; NOW, THEREFORE;
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council do hereby urge the Illinois General Assembly to approve the Religious Freedom and
Marriage Fairness Act, making Illinois the 10th state in the Union to legalize same-sex marriage; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to Governor Patrick Quinn, Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan, and Senate President John J. Cullerton along with the members of the General Assembly from Chicago.
Alderman Edward M. Burke
14m Ward