"Families have been kept apart."ĭebate lasted more than two hours, and the final roll call was met with hearty cheers. "To treat all our citizens equally in the eyes of the law we must change this," Harris said on the floor. Backers also launched a furious campaign, hiring a union lobbyist, the former head of the Illinois Republican Party and field organizers statewide. Supreme Court ruled to strike down a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, something he said resonated with lawmakers. Greg Harris, who is the main sponsor, decided not to bring the bill for a vote in May because he said he simply didn't have the support. The road to the Illinois vote was long with a stalled attempt earlier this year, something that frustrated activists in the state where Democrats lead the House, Senate and governor's office. Pat Quinn, who has pledged to sign it, though it wasn't immediately clear when.įourteen states plus Washington D.C., allow same-sex marriage. Under the legalization measure, which the state House approved 61-54 before sending it on to the Senate for technical changes, gay weddings could be held in Illinois starting in June. (AP) - Illinois lawmakers on Tuesday positioned their state to become the largest in the heartland to allow gay marriage, finally pushing the measure through the House after months of arduous lobbying in President Barack Obama's home state. Illinois lawmakers vote to allow gay marriages
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