Click here to live chat with one of our writers between 9am-5pm CST.
Illinois lawmakers urged to pass gay marriage legislation in lame duck session
November 18, 2010
By Kyle Maichle
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: As Illinois state lawmakers are back in Springfield for the lame duck veto session, a gay rights advocacy group is urging the General Assembly to pass gay marriage legislation[1].
Lambda Legal, a national-interest law firm that defends the gay community, is urging members of the General Assembly to pass a bill that legalizes civil unions in the Prairie State[1]. James Bennett, lead counsel for Lambda Legal's Midwest region, said: "committed same-sex couples in Illinois, many who have kids and have been together for decades, are legal strangers under the law.”[1]
Legalizing gay marriage or civil unions in Illinois was a hot-button issue during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Governor Pat Quinn told the Arlington Heights Daily Herald in October of 2010 that civil unions were close to becoming law in Illinois[2]. Quinn told the suburban-Chicago newspaper that, “the votes are there, I believe...In the Senate for sure, and definitely I think we can do it in the House."[2]
An October 2010 poll from the Paul Simon Institute at Southern Illinois found that 67.5 percent of respondents are in favor of legalizing gay marriage or civil unions[1]. No date has been scheduled for a vote on the bill in either house of the General Assembly[3].
See also
| ||
| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
References
| ||||||||||
