President Obama is encouraging Illinois lawmakers to vote in favor of marriage equality as they consider a bill in the upcoming lame-duck session in January.
“While the president does not weigh in on every measure being considered by state legislatures, he believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect.” White House spokesman Shin Inouye told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Were the President still in the Illinois State Legislature, he would support this measure that would treat all Illinois couples equally.”
The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, sponsored by state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) could go up for a vote as early as next week. While both houses of the Legislature are controlled by Democrats, resistance is expected from Republicans.
“We are working very hard to try to have the 30 and 60 votes in lame duck, so that we can call it,”Sen. Sterns told NBC Chicago. “We still think we’re close. We’ll have a much better feel once we’re back there.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Illinois passed a civil-unions law last year, but Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, is eager to bring marriage equality to The Prairie State.
2eo
Wait. If you put your ear to the modem you can hear the GOP agent provocateurs writing witless ripostes.
Don’t let me down fellows, not that you’re capable of sailing under a literally 0 expectation.
Brian
While this is encouraging, I want to know what Obama is going to do on his own turf. Is he going to agitate to end DOMA? Or will he totally ignore it like he did for the last 4 years?
There’s other things, such as enacting ENDA, the national anti-discrimination act. Obama has been extremely quiet on this issue. In fact, his silence is not a good sign of progress on this front.
If you voted for Obama, you’re entitled to feel short-changed.
2eo
Hooray, I wasn’t let down.
Happy new year.
WayDifferent
Hell-Annoy needs to get a grip on it escalating violent crime (including in it’s own gay community) before worrying about anything else.