FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 13, 2012 CONTACT: Mayors Press Office 312.744.3334 Press@cityofchicago.

org LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY, MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL Last weeks election continued Americas great history of expanding opportunity and equality. Today, we must take the next step on that journey by affording the opportunity to marry to all Americans and we can continue that march by quickly enacting marriage equality here in Illinois. Throughout my career in public service I have seen our city and society make progressive strides towards providing greater respect and rights to the GLBT community. As Mayor, I lobbied for civil unions in Illinois. In Congress and within the Obama administration I pushed for the end to Dont Ask, Dont Tell and helped expand health care benefits for same-sex couples. While we have come to a greater appreciation for the contributions of the GLBT community, gays and lesbians are still denied one essential freedom: the right to make a life-long commitment to the person they love. Gays and lesbians are our teachers, our doctors, our police officers, family members, friends and neighbors. Honoring their contributions as full members of our society means providing members of the GLBT community with the same rights and freedoms as every other citizen. Chicago is a city of different neighborhoods and nationalities, or different religions, races and sexual orientations. We are strongest when we are one people, united under the same set of laws, with the same freedoms and responsibilities. The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois have to a special place in our nations history as leader in our nations struggle to equality to all. Marriage equality is the next step in our nations march forward. Illinois must lead the way. ###