Illinois gay marriage bill to be reintroduced today
Wed. January 9, 2013 6:45 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
state sen. heather steans during sen. exec. cmte. hearing
Coalition led by Equality Illinois, Lambda Legal and ACLU of Illinois support lawmakers
Chicago, IL -
In a swift move on the first day of Illinois' new legislative session, the sponsors of a marriage equality bill today plan to file Senate and House bills that would grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry.
"We are one step closer to equality in the Land of Lincoln," said state Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago. "The bills we file today will treat all couples equally under the law. We are going full steam ahead on this."
Harris and state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) will introduce legislation, known as the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, shortly after members of the 98th General Assembly are sworn in. Both bills include language identical to the bill approved in the Senate Executive Committee last Thursday by an 8-5 vote.
"Last week, the Senate Executive Committee made history by approving same-sex marriage and gave our efforts incredible momentum," said Steans.
After the vote, Senate Democrats and Illinois Unites for Marriage, a coalition led by Equality Illinois, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois, decided to regroup and wait for the start of the 98 General Assembly.
That decision upset Rick Garcia of The Civil Rights Agenda, who called it a "stupid maneuver." However, the organizations leading Illinois Unites said they exhausted all options to pass the bill on the Senate floor before the lame duck session closed.
Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov called the reintroduction of the bill today "significant" and said, "We expect the House and Senate to promptly pass the measure and remove the current barrier to the equal availability of civil marriage."
The bill shares the support of Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady, who said last week that, "giving gay and lesbian couples the freedom to get married honors the best conservative principles. It strengthens families and reinforces a key Republican value - that the law should treat all citizens equally."
Sponsors and advocates continue to encourage Illinoisans to contact their lawmakers in support of the bill.
For more on Illinois Unites, visit www.illinoisunites.org.
Related: Illinois gay marriage bill moves forward, but at a slower pace
Related: Illinois marriage equality rally energizes LGBT community
"We are one step closer to equality in the Land of Lincoln," said state Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago. "The bills we file today will treat all couples equally under the law. We are going full steam ahead on this."
Harris and state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) will introduce legislation, known as the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, shortly after members of the 98th General Assembly are sworn in. Both bills include language identical to the bill approved in the Senate Executive Committee last Thursday by an 8-5 vote.
"Last week, the Senate Executive Committee made history by approving same-sex marriage and gave our efforts incredible momentum," said Steans.
After the vote, Senate Democrats and Illinois Unites for Marriage, a coalition led by Equality Illinois, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois, decided to regroup and wait for the start of the 98 General Assembly.
That decision upset Rick Garcia of The Civil Rights Agenda, who called it a "stupid maneuver." However, the organizations leading Illinois Unites said they exhausted all options to pass the bill on the Senate floor before the lame duck session closed.
Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov called the reintroduction of the bill today "significant" and said, "We expect the House and Senate to promptly pass the measure and remove the current barrier to the equal availability of civil marriage."
The bill shares the support of Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady, who said last week that, "giving gay and lesbian couples the freedom to get married honors the best conservative principles. It strengthens families and reinforces a key Republican value - that the law should treat all citizens equally."
Sponsors and advocates continue to encourage Illinoisans to contact their lawmakers in support of the bill.
For more on Illinois Unites, visit www.illinoisunites.org.
Related: Illinois gay marriage bill moves forward, but at a slower pace
Related: Illinois marriage equality rally energizes LGBT community