Illinois State House passes historic civil unions bill
Last night the Illinois State House of Representatives passed a historic civil unions bill. The bill was sponsored by openly gay Representative, Greg Harris.
"We have a chance today to make Illinois a more fair state, a more just state, and a state which treats all of its citizens equally under the law," Harris said on the House floor. "We have a chance here, as leaders have had in previous generations, to correct injustice and to move us down the path toward liberty."
The bill passed by a margin of 61-52 and is headed to the Senate where it is expected to pass. Governor Pat Quinn has been a strong supporter of civil unions and is expected to sign the bill.
While the debate was overwhelmingly positive, Rep. Ron Stephens spoke out against the bill saying "open homosexuality" was the fall of Rome.
Equality Florida has filed a similar bill in the Florida legislature. If you'd like to help lobby for the bill in Tallahassee or in your home district, please e-mail [email protected].
