Rahm Emanuel, Pat Quinn honored for work on Illinois gay marriage law
Tue. June 10, 2014 7:54 AM by Carlos Santoscoy
Chicago, IL -
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel were among the leaders honored Sunday for their work on a gay marriage law.
Illinois' Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act took effect on June 1, nearly 7 months after passage.
At its Tribute Brunch, Equality Illinois, the state's largest LGBT rights advocate, also honored Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, Rep. Greg Harris and Senator Heather Steans, in addition to Quinn and Emanuel. Steans and Harris, who is openly gay, introduced the marriage measure in their respective chambers.
"It is finally true in Illinois, there is no longer straight marriage or gay marriage. There is only marriage in the eyes of the law," Emanuel told the crowd of roughly 220 people who had gathered in the JW Marriott's Burnham Ballroom in downtown Chicago.
"If I wasn't there to sign the bill ... we wouldn't be here today," Quinn said, a possible dig at his Republican rival Bruce Rauner, who has suggested he would back repeal of the marriage law. "That is a lesson to all of us that getting involved in election campaigns and politics and democracy is indispensable."
Illinois' Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act took effect on June 1, nearly 7 months after passage.
At its Tribute Brunch, Equality Illinois, the state's largest LGBT rights advocate, also honored Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, Rep. Greg Harris and Senator Heather Steans, in addition to Quinn and Emanuel. Steans and Harris, who is openly gay, introduced the marriage measure in their respective chambers.
"It is finally true in Illinois, there is no longer straight marriage or gay marriage. There is only marriage in the eyes of the law," Emanuel told the crowd of roughly 220 people who had gathered in the JW Marriott's Burnham Ballroom in downtown Chicago.
"If I wasn't there to sign the bill ... we wouldn't be here today," Quinn said, a possible dig at his Republican rival Bruce Rauner, who has suggested he would back repeal of the marriage law. "That is a lesson to all of us that getting involved in election campaigns and politics and democracy is indispensable."
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine