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发帖数: 4174 | 1 Senator Heather Steans and Representative Greg Harris plan to push the
legislation before the current session ends early next month.
The stage was set for a holiday showdown over marriage equality in Illinois
when state lawmakers announced plans Thursday to push for legislation before
the end of the current session in early January.
Senator Heather Steans and Representative Greg Harris said they would take
up the measure, known as the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, in
the closing days of the current General Assembly. A new crop of lawmakers
will be sworn in January 9.
“The move carried the practical effect of mobilizing gay activists to lobby
lawmakers over the holidays but also represented a tossing down of the
gauntlet on the issue, revving up opponents for an intense battle,” reports
the Chicago Tribune.
Steans and Harris declined to say how much support they have for the bill,
but they indicated they would not bring the measure for a vote unless they
felt assured of victory. The bill has the backing of influential figures
including Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, but opponents
including the Catholic Conference of Illinois plan to fight the effort.
Illinois began to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions last
year. In addition to the legislative front, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of
Illinois have filed lawsuits on behalf of same-sex couples seeking to marry.
"By bringing the marriage bill to a vote, Representative Harris and Senator
Steans the co-sponsors of HB 5170 have brought hope to thousands of same-sex
couples across Illinois," said Camilla Taylor, Marriage Project Director
for Lambda Legal, in a statement. "Whether it's through the courts or
through the legislature, Illinois same-sex couples and their children need
the freedom to marry now, and it's encouraging that our elected officials
agree. The time is now." | m******1
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