Rahm Emanuel Valentine: Chicago Mayor Celebrates Illinois Senate Marriage Equality Vote

Rahm Celebrates Illinois Senate Marriage Vote With Valentine Rhyme

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday offered a tongue-in-cheek Valentine rhyme in celebration of the Illinois Senate's historic vote approving same-sex marriage.

"Roses are red / Violets are blue / Marry a woman / Or marry a dude," the poem, accompanied by a photo of the mayor offer a sincere thumbs up at last week's Equality Illinois gala benefit, was posted Thursday afternoon on the Chicago Mayor's Office Facebook page.

And it's been a hit: the post has 737 likes and 1,561 shares, as of Friday morning.

In addition to offering what we've dubbed a Rahmentine aimed at LGBT Illinoisans, the mayor said in a more earnest statement that he was proud of the state Senate's vote:

"The freedom to marry the person you love is one that should be afforded to all citizens and, for too long, has been denied to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. When two people love each other, no government entity should stand in the way of letting them express that love."

Illinois' marriage equality bill will next be considered by the state House of Representatives, which is considered to be more conservative than the Senate. State Rep. Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat who is the bill's House sponsor, told the Chicago Sun-Times he is confident the bill will pass in the House, but did not say when a vote will be taken, suggesting that more work lies ahead in the effort to line up the 60 votes required for a successful vote.

If the House approves the bill, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has vowed to sign it, which would make Illinois the tenth U.S. state to offer legal same-sex marriage.

Today, we are one step closer to marriage equality in Illinois," Quinn said in a statement Thursday. “The Senate took a stand for equal rights for all people. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation so that we can ensure Illinois is a welcoming place for everyone. Full equality for all people is right for Illinois.”

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Marriage Equality In Illinois

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