![\"Emily](\"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/files\/2014\/02\/Emily-gill-225x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBy: Shannon Bachar<\/p>\n
The topics of same-sex marriage and religious freedom have been widely debated in the states, with 17 states allowing same-sex marriage, and the more recent news of Arizona’s vetoed bill on refusal of service to gays based on religious beliefs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Caterpillar Professor of Political Science Dr. Emily Gill spoke of same-sex marriage and religious freedom Feb. 25 in Marty Theater of the Michel Student Center.<\/p>\n
Gill said her stance from the beginning, and argued that both straight and same-sex couples should share equal rights.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m just arguing that those who wish to marry should be able to do so,\u201d she said. \u201cUntil recently, gays, lesbians and bisexuals have been tolerated, at best.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lecture was based off of her third book, “An Argument for Same-Sex Marriage: Religious Freedom, Sexual Freedom, and Public Expressions of Civic Equality, that was published by Georgetown University Press in 2012.<\/p>\n
Gill said that same-sex couples should have equal access to jobs and housing, and that many same-sex couples desire the recognition that straight couples receive from the state, however the overall downside is that the government may promote policies that penalize those that don’t share the same beliefs.<\/p>\n
“Same-sex couples who wish to marry share a special bond recognized by others like straight couples do,” she said.<\/p>\n
Gill brought religion into the matter, and spoke on how many people use religious beliefs as a reason to discriminate upon same-sex marriages.<\/p>\n
“Sexism is not the problem per say, the problem is heterosexism,” she said.”Civil marriage is a public institution, where religion is not.”<\/p>\n
With numerous articles and essays written, Gill has given many lectures on this topic, and has had various responses from audience members.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already had one community person I know say my lecture was too scholarly, but these lectures are supposed to be based on scholarly work,\u201d Gill said.<\/p>\n
Gill said that such events can bring mixed audiences and people with different expectations but she knows several community members were in attendance because they were familiar with her work and interested.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo in that sense, it\u2019s good when community members can participate in an event based on scholarly work,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Despite her feedback, the overall speech was well received by some of the audience members.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought her speech was enlightening, I mean, it\u2019s a subject that is widely discussed, but it was interesting to hear a scholarly opinion,\u201d a Peoria citizen said.<\/p>\n
Some citizens in attendance said they came to the lecture not knowing exactly what to expect, but said they felt that they still got something out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was not necessarily what I was expecting, but I agreed with some of her thoughts,\u201d a Peoria citizen said. \u201cHer research enhanced her credibility, which was good.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the future of same-sex marriage and religious freedom, Gill believes the only factor is time.<\/p>\n
“It’s only a matter of time, I just don’t know how much, before there is marriage equality in all states,” she said.<\/p>\n