SPRINGFIELD – A billboard in Illinois' capitol city of Springfield reminds viewers the origination of the rainbow as a Scriptural one, related to God's promises – a stark contrast to the symbolism of the rainbow in contemporary society.
Illinois is moving progressively towards embracing the LGBTQ policy agenda – with the state's first openly-gay House Majority Leader and Chicago with its first openly-gay mayor.
The billboard, located along Springfield's South Grand Avenue, appeared just days before the city's annual Gay Pride Parade on May 15th. The billboard's artwork says "The Rainbow Belongs to God. It's a Sign of His Promise" and refers to Genesis 9:13-15 and 2nd Peter 3:3-7.
The backing for the billboard is connected to a national religious group entitled "Gone Too Far", which is concerned about the Equality Act that passed the U.S. House recently.
The group sees the Equality Act as a threat in HR 5 to free and religious liberty. “The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 shall not provide a claim concerning, or a defense to a claim under, a covered title, or provide a basis for challenging the application or enforcement of a covered title.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has made HR 5 one of her top priorities for this political section.
According to Concerned Women for America, the Equality Act seeks to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the immutable protected classes outlined in the Civil Rights Act.
"In addition to very legitimate religious liberty concerns," CWA says, "the Equality Act would directly harm women and girls by compromising sex-segregated spaces and placing women’s privacy and safety in jeopardy."
The measure is not expected to be considered in the Republican-dominated U.S. Senate, but would likely be considered if the Democrats were to assume control over the U.S. Senate or the White House.
How did Illinois' Congress members vote on the Equality Act? All Democrats voted Yes. All Republicans, except for Darin LaHood, voted No. LaHood did not vote.
