Delegates to the Illinois GOP convention are retaining a plank in the party’s platform that defines marriage to be between a man and a woman.
An overwhelming majority – 80 percent of 978 delegates – agreed Friday in Peoria that the official state Republican Party platform read the “ideal environment for children is within a two-parent family based on the principle of marriage between one man and one woman.”
“If there’s no distinguishing factor between the Democrats and us, how do I win?” asked Illinois State Rep. Terri Bryant during a rowdy debate, reports WBEZ. “How do the downstate Republicans win? We have to have a distinction. I implore you, I implore you, so we can pick up the extra seats we need in the House.”
Ryan Higgins from Schaumburg pushed for a plank that would acknowledge same-sex marriages, supposedly in order to make the platform more appealing to moderate Republicans.
“But during a debate on the issue, the crowd constantly booed Higgins, with some yelling at him to ‘go home,’” says the news report. “Many in the audience proudly wore bright yellow buttons that said ‘Marriage: One Mom, One Dad.’”
Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) refused to take a position on the issue of marriage, leaving the matter to the delegates to decide.
“Neither political party is a monolith,” he said. “You have members of each political party who agree on some issues and disagree on others. It’s OK.”
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