Amended Marriage Equality Bill Passes In Illinois House
By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 5, 2013 10:35PM
The Illinois House finally approved the long-stalled Senate Bill 10 granting gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. The key to the bill's passage was an amendment by its sponsor in the House, Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) moving the date the law takes effect to June 1, 2014. That change reduced the number of votes needed for passage from 71 to 60. The bill passed with 61 votes in favor, 54 against and 2 voted present.
Harris also amended the bill so that private clubs had greater safeguards against sanctioning same-sex marriages, a move which was seen as a concession to religious=based opponents of the bill.
Harris praised supporters of the bill after the vote.
“This bill will give them a better future,” Harris said in a steady voice, referring to same-sex couples across the state. “It’ll help families to show their love and commitment to each other and give all families a chance to live as full and equal citizens in the greatest country on the face of the earth.”
The bill heads back to the Illinois Senate for another vote before heading to Gov. Pat Quinn, who has long said he would sign off on the bill. The Senate passed SB 10 in a symbolic Valentine's Day vote.