Chicagomarriage equalityillinois-gay-marriage-updatesillinois-gay-marriage-news

Illinois Gay Marriage: Senate President Aims For Bill To Pass By Valentine's Day

Senate President Wants Gay Marriage In Illinois By Valentine's Day
|
Open Image Modal
FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2013 photo, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, speaks at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. On Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, during a speech to the City Club of Chicago, Cullerton addressed Illinois worst-in-the-nation pension problem, which he says drains the state budget. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

Valentine's Day might just be particularly poignant this year for same-sex couples in Illinois.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is hoping to see legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Illinois approved by lawmakers in time for the Feb. 14 holiday.

Cullerton told the paper he is hopeful the state Senate will approve the bill next week -- and is confident they have the 30 votes of support needed to do so. The bill would then need to advancing to the House of Representatives, which is considered to be more conservative. Gov. Pat Quinn has already vowed to sign the bill.

Earlier in the week, Cullerton told the City Club of Chicago that those pushing for marriage equality were "getting more support in the public every day," the Associated Press reports.

Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group Equality Illinois, told the Windy City Times that he sees Cullerton's announcement as boding well for his and other advocates' push for marriage equality in the land of Lincoln.

"I believe that the Senate president would not have announced a timeline on the bill if he did not think it had the votes to pass," Cherkasov told the Windy City Times on Friday.

With marriage equality advocates ramping up their efforts, so too are the opposition -- but apparently that group does not include the state's Republican Party. According to a Sun-Times column by Capitol Fax blogger Rich Miller, Illinois GOP lawmakers, too, want to see the marriage equality bill approved as quickly as possible.

With Democratic majorities holding the reins in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, Miller argues that Republicans hope to get the matter out of the way and behind them.

Nevertheless, a group of African American clergy also stepped up this week to push for the matter of marriage equality in Illinois to be left up to voters, WBEZ reported. On the other side of the issue, 250 clergy members in Illinois previously endorsed the marriage equality bill as "morally just."

Marriage equality supporters in Illinois last month reintroduced legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Sponsors had hoped to pass the bill during the lame-duck session in early January, but say they ran out of time to do so, though it was advanced by the Senate Executive Committee for the first time. President Barack Obama has expressed his support for the Illinois marriage equality bill.

Marriage Equality In Illinois
(01 of23)
Open Image Modal
Theresa Volpe, right, stands alongside her daughter Ava as her partner Mercedes Santos, left, holds their son Jaidon outside the office of Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, in a show of support for gay marriage legislation at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, May 30, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(02 of23)
Open Image Modal
Andy Thayer, of the Gay Liberation Network, displays a gay pride banner in a show of support of Illinois' gay marriage legislation outside the office of Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, May 30, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(03 of23)
Open Image Modal
Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, listens to lawmakers while on the House floor during session at the Illinois State Capitol Friday, May 31, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. Illinois lawmakers scramble to finish up business in their spring session with votes to legalize gay marriage, pension reform, and gun legislation. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(04 of23)
Open Image Modal
Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, right, talks with Illinois Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, left, while on the Senate floor during session at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, May 30, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(05 of23)
Open Image Modal
Illinois Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, smiles while testifying during a Senate Executive Committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois Senate committee approved legalizing gay marriage for the second time in a month. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(06 of23)
Open Image Modal
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, looks on during a Senate Executive Committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois Senate committee approved legalizing gay marriage for the second time in a month. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(07 of23)
Open Image Modal
Illinois Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, ask questions during a Senate Executive Committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois Senate committee approved legalizing gay marriage for the second time in a month. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(08 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this Jan. 3, 2013 photo, Theresa Volpe, second from left, testifies alongside her daughter Ava as her partner Mercedes Santos, right, sits with their son Jaidon during a Senate Executive committee hearing considering same sex marriage at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Despite a nudge from the home-state president, soaring support in the polls and national momentum from the November elections, the stalling of the gay marriage push in Illinois shows how tricky it is to get a legislature to approve same-sex unions. Illinois Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, a supporter for same sex marriage, left, looks on. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(09 of23)
Open Image Modal
Illinois Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, left, is congratulated by Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, both supporters of same sex marriage, as same sex marriage legislation passes a Senate Executive committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Springfield Ill. The Illinois Senate is considering a measure that would remove a state prohibition on marriage between two people of the same gender. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(10 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this Jan. 2, 2013 photo, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, speaks to lawmakers during a committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Despite a nudge from the home-state president, soaring support in the polls and national momentum from the November elections, the stalling of the gay marriage push in Illinois shows how tricky it is to get a legislature to approve same-sex unions. Cullerton has mentioned that same-sex marriage, along with gun control, are measures that are always going to be very, very tough to pass. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(11 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this Nov. 17, 2012 file photo, Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, speaks with reporters on the House floor during veto session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. Emboldened by recent victories at the polls and what they see as rapidly shifting attitudes in favor of gay rights, supporters say Illinois is ready to become the next state to allow same-sex marriage _ though they acknowledge getting a bill passed isn't a done deal and won't be easy, even with Democratic majorities in Springfield. Voters in four states either supported gay marriage or opposed a ban on it on Election Day _ a sweep that Rep. Harris, the prime sponsor of a bill introduced in the Illinois House, said represents a sea change in public opinion. Those results, along with recent polling that shows support among an increasing number of Illinois voters, has Harris and other advocates counting votes and trying to figure out not if legislation could get passed, but how soon. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File) (credit:AP)
(12 of23)
Open Image Modal
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Springfield Catholic diocese, left, testifies, saying the same sex marriage bill would undermine natural marriage between a man and a woman and would send a message that children dont need a mother and a father, during a Senate Executive committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Springfield Ill. Illinois Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, a supporter for same sex marriage, looks on. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(13 of23)
Open Image Modal
Both supporters and those opposing same sex marriage listen to lawmakers during a Senate Executive committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois Senate is considering a measure that would remove a state prohibition on marriage between two people of the same gender. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(14 of23)
Open Image Modal
A supporter for same sex marriage wears a sticker on her jacket prior to attending a Senate Executive committee hearing at the Illinois State Capitol Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Springfield Ill. The Illinois Senate is expected to consider a measure that would remove a state prohibition on marriage between two people of the same gender. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (credit:AP)
(15 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this Feb. 8, 2012 file photo, Illinois Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, right, confers with Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, on the Senate floor during session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Advocates of legalized gay marriage in Illinois are pleased that Steans and state Rep. Greg Harris are planning to push for approval in January. Steans and Harris say they believe they have the votes necessary to fulfill Gov. Pat Quinn's hope of signing same-sex marriage into law in January. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File) (credit:AP)
(16 of23)
Open Image Modal
Camilla Taylor, marriage project director for Lambda Legal, speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Chicago. More than two dozen gay Illinois couples who say its unconstitutional for the state to deny them the right to marry and will file two lawsuits Wednesday, a move advocates believe could lead to legalized gay marriage in Illinois. The two lawsuits, filed by attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and New-York based gay advocacy group Lambda Legal, include couples from Chicago and its suburbs, Bloomington and Marion. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (credit:AP)
(17 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this June 1, 2011 file photo, Janean Watkins, left, and Lakeesha Harris embrace after being the first in line to obtain a civil union license from the Cook County Office of Vital Records in Chicago. They are among more than two dozen same-sex couples filing lawsuits Wednesday, May 30, 2012, challenging the constitutionality of Illinois marriage laws. Advocates for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and Lambda Legal are each filing a lawsuit on behalf of the couples. Their goal is to make same-sex marriage legal. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) (credit:AP)
(18 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this file photo taken June 1, 2011, in Chicago, From left, Jim Darby, 79, and his partner Patrick Bora,73, and Janean Watkins, 37, and her partner, Lakeesha Harris, 36, wait in line at the Cook County Office of Vital Records to obtain civil union licenses. Emboldened by recent victories at the polls and what they see as rapidly shifting attitudes in favor of gay rights, supporters say Illinois is ready to become the next state to allow same-sex marriage _ though they acknowledge getting a bill passed isn't a done deal and won't be easy, even with Democratic majorities in Springfield. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (credit:AP)
(19 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this file photo taken Feb. 9, 2012, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, DC. Opponents of a gay marriage ban in Illinois dont have to worry about a fight from attorneys who would normally be responsible for defending the states laws. Madigan and Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarez both have refused to defend the ban, saying it violates the state constitution That sets up a scenario where a judge quickly could strike down the 16-year-old law. The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal filed separate lawsuits against Cook County Clerk David Orr. Hes responsible for issuing marriage licenses in the county. Alvarez represents Orr. And she says they both agreed with the plaintiffs. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) File (credit:AP)
(20 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this photo taken Friday, May 11, 2012, Cook County States Attorney Anita Alverez walks to a press conference at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building. Opponents of a gay marriage ban in Illinois dont have to worry about a fight from attorneys who would normally be responsible for defending the states laws. State's Attorney Lisa Madigan and Cook County States Attorney Alvarez, both have refused to defend the ban, saying it violates the state constitution That sets up a scenario where a judge quickly could strike down the 16-year-old law. The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal filed separate lawsuits against Cook County Clerk David Orr. Hes responsible for issuing marriage licenses in the county. Alvarez represents Orr. And she says they both agreed with the plaintiffs. ,(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (credit:AP)
(21 of23)
Open Image Modal
Claudio Mercado (L) and Angelica Lopez wait with their daughter Isabel for the start of their civil union ceremony in Millennium Park June 2, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 30 same-sex couples were joined in civil unions today during a ceremony in the park. Illinois is the sixth state to allow same-sex civil unions or their equivalent, which provide gay couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(22 of23)
Open Image Modal
Shanelle Moffett (L) and Tenisha Watkins embrace at their civil union ceremony in Millennium Park June 2, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 30 same-sex couples were joined in civil unions today during a ceremony in the park. Illinois is the sixth state to allow same-sex civil unions or their equivalent, which provide gay couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(23 of23)
Open Image Modal
In this file photo taken March 11, 2002, Alexa Santos waves a gay pride flag in Chicago's federal plaza during a rally in support of equal marriage rights for gays. Area gay rights groups are calling on Cook County Clerk David Orr to defy a state law and begin issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. Opponents of a gay marriage ban in Illinois dont have to worry about a fight from attorneys who would normally be responsible for defending the states laws. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarez both have refused to defend the ban, saying it violates the state constitution That sets up a scenario where a judge quickly could strike down the 16-year-old law. The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal filed separate lawsuits against Cook County Clerk David Orr. Hes responsible for issuing marriage licenses in the county. Alvarez represents Orr. And she says they both agreed with the plaintiffs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) (credit:AP)

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip