Illinois becomes 16th US state to legalize gay marriage
Illinois became the 16th US state to legalize gay marriage Wednesday, just days after Hawaii passed marriage equality legislation.
“What we’re celebrating today is the triumph of democracy, the triumph of liberty,” Governor Pat Quinn said as he prepared to sign the bill into law on a desk used by President Abraham Lincoln, who hailed from Illinois.
“Part of our unfinished business is to help the rest of America achieve marriage equality,” Quinn said at an hour-long bill signing ceremony attended by around 3,000 cheering people.
Marriage laws are governed by individual US states, 29 of which have amended their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage.
Efforts to give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexuals have gathered steam in recent years.
Perhaps one of the most important victories was when the US Supreme Court in June struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
As a result, the federal government was allowed to recognize same-sex couples in all federal matters, such as sharing pension benefits.
More here: Illinois became the 16th US state to legalize gay marriage Wednesday, just days after Hawaii passed marriage equality legislation.
“What we’re celebrating today is the triumph of democracy, the triumph of liberty,” Governor Pat Quinn said as he prepared to sign the bill into law on a desk used by President Abraham Lincoln, who hailed from Illinois.
“Part of our unfinished business is to help the rest of America achieve marriage equality,” Quinn said at an hour-long bill signing ceremony attended by around 3,000 cheering people.
Marriage laws are governed by individual US states, 29 of which have amended their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage.
Efforts to give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexuals have gathered steam in recent years.
Perhaps one of the most important victories was when the US Supreme Court in June struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
As a result, the federal government was allowed to recognize same-sex couples in all federal matters, such as sharing pension benefits.
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