Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Kirk now joins Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio as the two lone Republican senators in support of marriage equality.
Senator Mark Kirk is now the second Republican senator in the nation to back same-sex marriage after a Tuesday statement posted on his website. “When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others. Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage. Our time on this Earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back-- government has no place in the middle.” Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin applauded his decision. “Senator Kirk ... (has) shown tremendous leadership in announcing (his) support for marriage equality," he said. "Democrat or Republican, there can simply be no excuse…
Monday, April 1, 2013
Cook County Clerk David Orr's lawyers filed a brief in defense of a lawsuit attempting to overthrow the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office is taking a stance against opponents of same-sex marriage. On Monday, Clerk Orr's lawyers filed a brief in opposition to a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Illinois' same-sex marriage ban. Orr was the original defendant in the suit to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage: Darby v. Orr. However, the longtime equal rights advocate, along with Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, refused to defend the state ban, the Chicago Phoenix reports. Instead, Orr sided with the 25 plaintiffs across the state—from Evanston to Rock Island, Hyde Park to Alto Pass—who were denied marriage licenses. As a result, downstate County Clerks Kerry Hirtzel and …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The bill now faces one final obstacle: the Illinois House floor.
The Senate-cleared same-sex marriage bill took its first step towards passage in the state House today after passing a 6-5 Executive Committee vote, the Chicago Tribune reports. READ: Illinois Senate Passes Historic Same Sex Marriage Bill The bill now faces what is expected to be its toughest challenge yet. House floor action is essentially the last step in its passage as Gov. Pat Quinn already expressed his endorsement of the bill. Get the rest of the story by the Chicago Tribune
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The bill will now move to the House of Representatives where it will have to pass committee and floor action before going to Gov. Quinn.
A bill to legalize same-sex marriage passed the Illinois Senate early Thursday afternoon, making a happier Valentine's Day for gay couples across the state. The Senate passed the bill—SB 10—with 34 votes in favor, 21 votes against and two abstentions. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives, where it will need 60 votes to pass. The bill will now go over to the House of Representative where it will have to repeat the same process before going to Gov. Quinn, who already voiced his support of the bill in a Chicago Tribune report. If passed, the state law defining marriage would be changed from an act between a man and a woman, to two people. "I've been told it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when it's going to be done," …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Legislators in support of same-sex marriage have a long way to go, but the ball is rolling.
A same-sex marriage bill may be voted on in the Illinois Senate as early as Valentine’s Day, the Chicago Tribune reports. Sen. Heather Seans, D-Chicago, sponsored the bill in last month’s lame duck session, but it took until Tuesday for it to advance past committee action in a 9-5 vote, according to the report. The bill will now go to floor process where the entire Senate will consider its passage. Should it make it through the Senate readings, it will go before the House, where the process will be repeated. If it passes the House—a big "if," according to the Tribune—it then goes up for consideration by Governor Pat Quinn. Quinn recently told the Tribune he completely supports same-sex marriage. For more, read the Chicago Tribune report.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The decision whether to allow gays in the scouts may soon be a local one depending on Wednesday's vote.
One year after reaffirming its stance against gay membership, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will vote this week on whether to lift the ban, the Chicago Tribune reports. The BSA board is convening at the organization’s headquarters in Texas to discuss the controversial decision, reports say. The board has said it will consider lifting the national restriction against gay membership, instead leaving the call up to local troop leaders. A Wednesday vote will determine how the group proceeds, but there’s already plenty of influence on both sides of the fence. On Sunday, President Barack Obama strongly voiced his support for equal access to the organization, regardless of sexual orientation. However, other notable figures such as Texas …
Barbie Deal
10:41 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
I'm very disappointed! more ›