Illinois lawmakers are attempting to take advantage of January’s lame-duck session by quickly voting on marriage equality and The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, sponsored by state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), before the new legislators, who are likely to vote with electoral hesitation, take their seats.
Hoping to be introduced on Wednesday evening, the bill was delayed due to being two votes shy of waiving the six-day waiting period, however, Steans is still confident. ”Some of the folks who would vote for [hearing it] will be there tomorrow morning,” Steans said on Wednesday. “So we’ll do the vote [then].”
The Tie Bar hosted Jesse Tyler Ferguson as he spoke in support of Illinois equality on Wednesday.
Gay marriage advocates flocked to Springfield on Wednesday to rally support, including Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his fiancé Justin Mikita. “I’m looking forward to raising a family with Justin and having our kids grow up in an equal America,” Ferguson said. “I had a hard time coming out and certainly had struggles with my parents. … If the 12-year-old me had been able to turn on the TV and see a sitting president say he supports marriage equality, it would have made all the difference for me and certainly given me a lot of hope.”
President Obama has even urged lawmakers from his home state to support the bill. “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.”
While the majority of Democrats are for the legislation, Republican Party Chair Pat Brady is attempting to persuade his colleagues to do the same. “More and more Americans understand that if two people want to make a lifelong commitment to each other, government should not stand in their way,” Brady told the Sun-Times. “Giving gay and lesbian couples the freedom to get married honors the best conservative principles. It strengthens families and reinforces a key Republican value—that the law should treat all citizens equally.”
“Importantly, the pending legislation would protect the freedom of religion,” Brady added. “No church or religious organization would ever be required to perform a union with which it disagrees.”
Should the bill make it through the legislature with no hiccups, it could be instated as early as Valentine’s Day.
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