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Illinois State Rep. Deborah Mell’s Moving Engagement Speech (Won’t Move Lawmakers on Gay Marriage)

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So that was pretty nice. Illinois State Rep. Deborah Mell, as planned, took to the House floor yesterday to talk about her engagement to Christin Baker, and how they have to run off to Iowa to get married. But also: Don’t expect Illinois lawmakers to be moved that much; there aren’t big plans to take up the issue of same-sex marriage legislation.

And then there’s this ultimate irony: “Illinois has been slow in approving gay rights measures — it took more than 30 years to win approval of a law outlawing discrimination against gays and lesbians by landlords, real estate agents, employers and lenders. Then- Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Mell’s brother-in-law, signed that bill in 2005.” Mr. Blagojevich is now persona non grata in Illinois politics.

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