A Chicago activist has launched a
petition calling on organizers of the Chicago Gay Pride Parade to
exclude Illinois politicians from this year's festivities.
The
change.org petition is a response to the Illinois House's failure
to vote on a proposed gay marriage bill. The measure, which cleared
the Senate on Valentine's Day and has the support of Democratic
Governor Pat Quinn, could return in the fall.
“How could they not hear the people
cry out for equality?” states the petition being organized by
Curtis Bumgarner. “So why should we be subjected to hear them cry
out for votes and elections during our time of being proud of who we
are and the battle we have overcome?”
As of Monday evening, the petition had
attracted nearly 700 electronic signatures.
Bumgarner told the Chicago Tribune
that the petition will be delivered to Richard Pfeiffer, whose group
PRIDEChicago organizes the annual parade, now in its 44th
year, and the Illinois State House.
Pfeiffer told ChicagoPride.com
that they have no plans to exclude politicians.