On Nov. 5, the Land of Lincoln was victorious. The Illinois House of Representatives passed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Act, which will allow same-sex marriage to be legally recognized within the state. Illinois is now on course to become the fifteenth state to allow gay couples to wed.
Approving the bill 61-54, lawmakers have had a rough time getting the legislation passed. The measure made it through a House committee last
spring, but did not receive enough support to be put to a vote before the session ended in May . The bill will now go back to the Illinois Senate for a final vote. The Senate approved the previous version of the bill on Valentine’s Day .
The House vote primarily stay ed within party lines. Three Republicans voted in favor, 11 Democrats against it and two voted present.
“I am so thrilled that they finally passed it,” freshman Spencer Clark said. “I think it has been a long time coming and it is another huge step towards total marriage equality in the United States.”
Currently , the only states that recognize same-sex marriage include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Mary land, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey , Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Washington D.C. also recognizes same-sex marriage.
Millikin students and faculty have been eagerly waiting for this moment. A number of students participated with Office of Student Success Learning Resource Specialist Rene Verry at the marriage equality march in Springfield on Oct. 22.
“I am proud that the call for justice, fairness and liberty so eloquently written in documents like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution was heard and answered by the 98th Illinois General Assembly ,” Verry said. “Civil liberties, so basic and essential to the quality of like and security of all humans, have historically had to be wrestled from those in power who would limit the freedom and opportunity of others for their own benefit. I am
overjoy ed to stand with friends, families, loved ones and allies in the LGBTQ community to cheer. Justice has been well served by providing civil liberties for all Illinois citizens to be able to legally marry the person they love.”
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who stood on the House floor as the legislation was considered, has persistently stated he would sign the bill into law once it was passed. Quinn, a Democrat, supported the legislation since it was first introduced earlier this y ear by Sen. Heather Steans and state Rep. Greg Harris. He signed Illinois’ civil unions bill into law in 2011.
In a statement reported by the “Advocate,” Quinn said, “The Illinois House put our state on the right side of history . Illinois is a place that embraces all people. We are now an example for the nation.”
Senior Chet Lord-Remmert agrees.
“This is a historical day for Illinois,” he said. “I am overjoy ed for all Illinois couples who will now have their love recognized by the state. The citizens of Illinois, LGBTQ and ally alike, demonstrated the power of love for months and our legislature finally responded in kind. I am proud to be an Illinoisan today .”
Reported by the “Windy City Times,” Harris, the chief sponsor of the marriage equality bill, addressed the House and said that Illinoisans in same-sex relationships had moved from a second-class to a third-class status since the February Senate vote, as in the meantime, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act making the federal government recognize same-sex marriages.
The bill has gained numerous prominent supporters including Chicago may or Rahm Emanuel, U.S. senator Mark Kirk, former president Bill Clinton and incumbent president Barack Obama. Illinois’ House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is considered to be one of the state’s most powerful politicians, was making calls to House members encouraging them to vote y es.
Quinn is scheduled to sign the bill into law on Nov. 20 at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum at 3:30 p.m. Same-sex couples can apply for marriage license beginning June 1, 2014.
Illinois is the sixth state this y ear to legalize same-sex marriage. Many advocates are looking at Hawaii to join the party very soon.