Illinois State House Passes Gay Marriage Bill

[cal04]

Last edited Tue Nov 5, 2013, 07:14 PM - Edit history (3)

Source: TPM

The Illinois State House passed a gay marriage bill Tuesday evening by a 61-54 margin.

The state Senate already passed a version of the bill, but has to vote on it again before heading to the governor's desk for final passage.




Illinois House clears way for gay marriage bill
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-gay-marriage-illinois-20131105,0,7759837.story

The House today narrowly approved a gay marriage bill, clearing the way for Illinois to become the 15th state to legalize same-sex unions.

The bill got 61 votes, one more than the bare minimum needed to send the measure back to the Senate for final approval that’s expected later today. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has said he would sign the bill into law should it reach his desk.

(snip)
Sponsoring Rep. Greg Harris told colleagues that a series of “proud moments and difficult decisions that have brought honor upon the people and the state of Illinois, and we find ourselves at another one of those moments today.”

The openly gay Democratic lawmaker from Chicago said the state’s civil union law has saddled Illinois with “inequality, unfair burden and harms added layer by layer to people simply because they live in the state of Illinois.”

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/illinois-gay-marriage-bill-passes-state-house

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The Illinois House of Representatives finally took up marriage equality today and passed the bill 61-54. One amendment was approved first, which includes exemptions for private clubs that are already provided under the Illinois Human Rights Act. As a result, the Senate will have to approve the bill one final time, which they are prepared to do before the evening is over. The law will then take effect June 1, 2014,. Illinois will be the 15th state to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.


http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/11/05/2894791/breaking-illinois-house-passes-marriage-equality/

Roll Call
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-gay-marriage-illinois-roll-call-20131105,0,2878909.htmlpage

[William769]

1. Yes!

[hrmjustin]

2. Great news!

[Happyhippychick]

3. Mazel tov Illinois!

[dbackjon]

4. Awesome news - my home state!!!

But very disappointed that so many Democrats voted against this.

[frazzled]

5. Hooray! I called my state rep. at least five times

... and called again this afternoon during the debate on the floor. I wasn't sure she would vote for it actually (she represents the West Side, where conservative black churches can make that vote difficult). I'm thrilled to see that she voted YES! (Green light).

So, Representative Golar: Thanks, and I'll be calling your office to thank you this time!

[trublu992]

6. I'm shocked it passed. Not surprised so many dems voted against it

Illinois is tricky political state the Democratic party is a joke here.

I'm happy that it made thru, its nice that Illinois can make some progress.

[dbackjon]

10. 13 Democrats voted NO or Present

7 Rural Democrats, 6 Urban Democrats

3 Chicago Area Republicans voted YES

[alp227]

7. the so-called Illinois Family Institute can go screw off. nt

[libdem4life]

8. It was a slippery slope. Now, it's momentum.

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. State Senate is now taking a procedural vote to give final approval.

They already voted yes months ago. According to NBC5, Governor Quinn is celebrating. Great news.

[City Lights]

11. I just learned about this on FB.

I'm so happy!

[idwiyo]

12. K&R Yes!