op-ed
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
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October 13, 2004

• Gay spokesperson works for anti-gay Republican Supreme Court candidate
  
• Candidate's wife to speak at anti-gay marriage rally Oct. 21

The elections in Illinois are heating up on the issue of gay marriage. No, it's not the losing anti-gay campaign waged by hypocritical moralist Alan Keyes, whose own daughter, Maya, is a lesbian. There isn't even a gay marriage measure on the November ballot. The focus of angry gay marriage opponents is on the race for the Illinois Supreme Court's 5th Judicial District seat.

Angered that the state legislature failed to place a gay marriage amendment on November's ballot, Christian conservatives are now setting their sites on the election of a Republican Supreme Court Justice in the state's 5th district.

Christian conservatives fear that Illinois Justices will continue appointing "activists judges," and that the high court itself could hear challenges to the state's law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The race has attracted a lot of attention and a lot of money. A Colorado based film maker, Wayne Ewing Films, is making a documentary on the election, and state parties and special interest groups have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race.

Because of laws prohibiting Supreme Court candidates from expressing their views on issues that might come before the court, Republican Supreme Court Justice candidate Judge Lloyd Karmeier is very careful in how he expresses his position on gay marriage.

"What Karmeier has said is Supreme Courts in other states have gone too far in their actions and that he believes the court is to interpret the law, not make laws," Karmeier Campaign Spokesperson Steve Tomaszewksi told Outlet Radio.

When asked how Tomaszewski feels as a gay man working for a Supreme Court candidate who advocates positions denying him and his partner equal rights, Tomaszewski asserted, "I have no problem speaking for Shimkus and Karmeier on these issues and supporting their positions both personally and professionally." Tomaszewski added that Outlet Radio was the first media outlet ever to ask him about being gay.

Tomaszewski has lived with his partner, Jerry Dial, a hairstylist in Collinsville, IL, at various addresses for years. Thomaszewski is also the spokesperson for Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), who recently voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment in the United States Congress.

As a spokesperson for Karmeier's campaign, Tomaszewski answers to Campaign Manger David Luechtefeld, a conservative Republican state senator in Illinois who opposes equal rights for gays.

Even the candidate's wife is in on the gay bashing. On October 21st, Judge Karmeier's wife Mary will attend an anti-gay marriage rally in Effingham, IL and plans to speak about the issue of gay marriage. The rally is one of 14 occurring across the state in a one week period titled "United We Stand--Defending Marriage."

The rallies are hosted by Christian conservative groups Illinois Family Institute, Concerned Women for America Illinois, Walsh Forum, Catholic Citizens Illinois and others.

"We are just a bunch of Christians in Illinois who aren't giving up on the grassroots battle to end gay marriage," Effingham Protect Marriage Rally coordinator Pammette Balda told Outlet Radio. "We don't want the bestiality, pedophilia and gay marriages that liberal activist judges are forcing on America. We're organizing and telling Illinois that the Christian majority won't stand for this."

Renew Illinois, one of the sponsors of United We Stand--Defending Marriage, has endorsed Judge Lloyd Karmeier for the Illinois Supreme Court.

Another even co-sponsor, Catholic Citizens of Illinois, has placed radio spots reminding voters not to vote for politicians that support equal marriage rights.

"Across the country, pro abortion gay rights politicians are masquerading as Catholics and asking for your vote, while the clear teaching of the Catholic Church is that abortion and homosexual acts are gravely sinful.Politicians who promote these errors, and the voters who put them in office, participate directly in this evil. This November, don't leave your Catholic Faith behind when you go into the voting booth. Your vote is a matter of life... or DEATH"
[Catholics Vote Catholic - listen to the MP3]

Balda said she heard Karmeier speak at a Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce luncheon on the subject and is confident Karmeier will stand up against the gay agenda and activist judges.

"Liberals are trying to get this gay agenda into our schools so kids who haven’t hit puberty will question themselves," Balda added. "Krameier won’t let that happen."

Citizens in the 5th district of Illinois will vote for either Republican Lloyd Karmeier or his opponent, Democratic candidate Judge Gordon Maag, on November 2, 2004. The documentary is scheduled for release January 2005 and will be distributed in theaters, television, schools and universities.