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Jim Ryan wavers on support of gay bill
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Race
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| Contributor | Moof |
| Last Edited | Ashley May 25, 2009 04:20am |
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| Category | General |
| News Date | Wednesday, January 30, 2002 06:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | In a letter to potential conservative supporters, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan is backing off some of his support of gay rights. As Attorney General of Illinois, Ryan supported the passage of a state human-rights bill that would have included coverage based on sexual orientation.
But Ryan, in his attempt to appeal to the conservative wing of his party, sent a letter recently to two conservative groups, including the Concerned Christian Coalition, stating that "After consulting with several pro-family leaders and re-examining my own position, I have decided to reverse my earlier position regarding the religious exemption in the proposed amendments to the Human Rights Act (HB1010)."
Ryan said he believes faith-based organizations should be exempt from such a law: "I do not support requiring such organizations to hire homosexuals if their lifestyle conflicts with the moral teaching of that religion."
Rick Garcia, political director of the gay-rights group Equality Illinois, said when he saw copies of the letters last week, he was furious and immediately got on the phone.
Last year, all the state's constitutional officers, Republican and Democrat, got on board as supporting HB101, including Gov. George Ryan and Attorney General Jim Ryan. But Jim Ryan was the only constitutional officer, and the only major gubernatorial candidate, not at last Saturday's Equality Illinois gala. |
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