Representative Tom Morrison (R) Ignores Constituents Who Support Marriage Equality

In his first year in the Illinois House, I contacted Representative Tom Morrison (R, IL House - 54) to urge him to vote against legislation that would prohibit the running of background checks on potential renters. As I am on my local condominium association board, I know that we regularly run background checks as we participate in a Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program through the Palatine Police. We don't permit individuals with criminal records - owners or renters - to reside in our community. Rep. Morrison wrote back immediately and called twice, providing me with his cell phone number, to follow up and assure me that he'd vote against HB1465. I was amazed by the level of communication I received from my rep. That experience stuck with me and although I generally refer to myself as an independent liberal, I heeded the endorsements of the local papers to re-elect Rep. Morrison. 

As marriage equality legislation did not pass in the lame duck session, I contacted Rep. Morrison again to urge him to support marriage equality. I cited numerous legal and biological reasons as well as even appealing to scripture (which should not have any place in government due to the Supreme Court decisions establishing the separation of church and state) to support the right to marriage equality. I equated this egregious denial of civil rights to our nation's dark history of racism when it was illegal in many states for interracial couples to marry. 

Then I waited. And waited. 

I appealed to him by tagging his Facebook page and re-posted my original letter to my 600 friends on Facebook. And I waited.

Yesterday, Rep. Morrison expressed his frustration over the House Democrats' voting behavior yesterday. The Republicans' voices weren't heard and there was a question about meeting the attendance requirements for the vote. I commented on his post that I felt ignored by his lack of response in the four months since I wrote to him. He answered that he has "gotten bombarded with emails both pro and con on that issue. You and I happen to disagree on whether or not marriage should be re-defined. This is about passing an actual bill without the required 60 votes in the building. Regardless of party or special interest, citizens should be upset at this."

Seriously? He used the "redefining marriage" argument? Okay, okay. So marriage has changed a lot over time. The families of brides used to pay the families of grooms with livestock, goods, or money. Has the cessation of dowry obligations negatively redefined marriage? What about allowing interracial couples to marry? What about the Kim Kardashian quicky-marriage-file-for-divorce-get-knocked-up-by-Kanye-West variety of marriage? Old folks whose unions can no longer provide offspring can get married. The tragically infertile can get married. Those who do not wish to have children can get married.

And guess what? Churches can control who can get married in their churches. Divorcees cannot get married in Catholic churches. I couldn't get married in a Mormon Temple as I'm not a Mormon. My point is this: marriage is complicated. Would allowing same-sex couples these same rights truly re-define marriage? If so, who would be harmed? Certainly, my marriage wouldn't mean any less to me and my husband. Besides, the AAP and APA have cited that the children of same-sex couples fare as well as those of heterosexual couples. I digress and promise to get off my high horse.

I reminded him that regardless of his difference of opinion, as my representative, he could have at least sent a courtesy email thanking me for taking the time to write. I went on to cite the diversity of his constituency and that Mark Kirk (R) has come out in support of marriage equality legislation. 

My responses elicited a message from a fellow constituent who had been blocked by Rep. Morrison from posting on his Facebook page or sending him messages. The conclusion I've drawn from my experience and from my fellow constituent's experience is that Rep. Morrison does not listen to his constituency or want to hear what they have to say when they do not agree with him. 

What happened to the Tea Party candidate who was trying to mix things up as a political outsider? He went from a responsive representative to a business-as-usual, party-line-toeing Republican.

I urge all members of his constituency to further bombard his email box, mail box, and phone with messages expressing your opinions on marriage equality. His contact information is available at: http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=1783

In addition to my post here, I will continue my efforts through writing letters-to-the-editor to our local newspapers.