Illinois’ State House is expected today to vote on a civil unions bill, sponsored by gay Rep. Greg Harris (pictured), where supporters say they’ve got the votes to pass it. Also true in the Senate! Even Chicago’s mayoral candidates want this thing! And then Gov. Pat Quinn will sign it! Naturally this isn’t sitting well with Bigotry Inc.
“We’re trying to encourage the people of Illinois to speak out and contact their legislators,” says David E. Smith, executive director the Illinois Family Institute, who notes the timing of the vote: during the lame duck session. Which is just a way for lawmakers who are being pushed out in January to vote with the conscious, not the will of the people! Which, uh, has always been a bad thing?
Justin
I hope it passes. They’ve been trying to forever. One more reason I’m glad Pat Quinn beat that knuckle-dragging Bloomington imbecile Bill Brady.
DR
Call it “second-class marriage” all you like, but it’s better than the nothing 40-odd states still have… I hope it passes.
Nick
I agree with the previous two posters. This bill is far from perfect and does not guarantee equality. However, it is better than nothing and is a step in the right direction. I’d rather have most protections than none at all.
Billy
I’m a divorced father of two who is partnered to a man. I don’t understand the rush. We didn’t get where we are today by making everything happen at once. Its the frog in the kettle effect. If you put a frog in a boiler of tepid water and slowly increase the temperature, the frog will boil to death. If you raise the temperature too fast, the frog will jump. We have (or our predecessors have) been slowly increasing the temperature, showing we are NOT all weirdos and freaks, proving to the world that we should be counted. Why not take this as the next logical step and THEN try to get the rest through after that step. It just makes sense to me!!
Allison
http://friendlyneighborhoodgay.tumblr.com/
There’s a really good piece on here about gay rights!
Isaac
I have to agree with the posters above. Civil rights don’t arrive overnight. It takes years of blood, sweat, and tears to achieve full equality. This happened with blacks here in the US as well as women. To belittle the accomplishment here in Illinois is to deny all the work of the activists, politicians, and ordinary people that went into changing the hearts and minds of all the people who led to this bill’s passing. This is not full equality, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. I’m glad to live in a state that is moving forward on rights for all!
MikeE
Canada now has marriage equality.
Did it come overnight? No.
It all started with one province giving civil partnerships to same-sex couples. This was followed by another, then another. Eventually, it was inevitable, marriage equality became the law of the land.
Noting wrong with “slow and steady”.