Today, the Illinois State Senate
voted to pass the legalization of marriage equality (
IL SB10) bill, entitled the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, by a 34-21-2-2 score in favor of the good people. The vote is one step closer to making the Land of Lincoln one step closer to legalizing marriage equality in the state.
It's a fine day for sane people; however, the bigots over at the Illinois "Family" Institute and their ilk are mighty pissed off... and that's a good thing when the IFI is mad.
HuffPo:
In a historic Valentine's Day vote, the Illinois Senate passed a bill clearing the way for same-sex couples to be legally married in the Land of Lincoln.
The bill was approved by a vote of 34 to 21 Thursday afternoon following a vigorous debate between lawmakers who both supported and opposed the measure. Two lawmakers voted present. Only one Republican -- state Sen. Jason Barickman, of Champaign, joined a supermajority of Democrats in voting yes.
The two present votes were two Democrats: Patricia Van Pelt Watkins, who ran for Chicago Mayor in 2011, and Napoleon Harris, who last month abandoned a campaign for ex-U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s seat in Congress.
Marriage equality proponents were cautiously confident in their odds heading in to the Thursday vote.
Chicago Tribune:
Democratic Sen. William Haine of Alton, a former state's attorney from Madison County, joined in the criticism of the legislation, calling it a "profound change."
"We are doing it on the basis of emotion and the needs of citizens who actively vote," said Haine. He complained the bill falls short of protecting churches from being forced to engage in what they view as "sacrilegious."
But Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, called this particular Valentine's Day a "day of celebration," saying support for gay marriage is a decisive action to break down barriers that have prevented some Illinois citizens from getting the justice they deserve.
"The sky is not falling, Chicken Little," Raoul said.
Roll Call Vote on IL SB10:
1 Antonio Muñoz Democratic Chicago Y
2 William Delgado Democratic Chicago Y
3 Mattie Hunter Democratic Chicago Y
4 Kimberly A. Lightford Democratic Chicago Y
5 Patricia Van Pelt Watkins Democratic Chicago P
6 John Cullerton (Senate President) Democratic Chicago Y
7 Heather Steans Democratic Chicago Y
8 Ira Silverstein Democratic Chicago A
9 Daniel Biss Democratic Evanston Y
10 John G. Mulroe Democratic Chicago Y
11 Martin Sandoval Democratic Chicago Y
12 Steven M Landek Democratic Bridgeview Y
13 Kwame Raoul Democratic Chicago Y
14 Emil Jones III Democratic Chicago Y
15 Napoleon Harris Democratic Chicago P
16 Jacqueline Y. Collins Democratic Chicago Y
17 Donne Trotter Democratic Chicago Y
18 William Cunningham Democratic Chicago Y
19 Michael Hastings Democratic Orland Township Y
20 Iris Martínez Democratic Chicago Y
21 Michael Connelly Republican N
22 Michael Noland Democratic Elgin Y
23 Tom Cullerton Democratic Villa Park Y
24 Kirk W. Dillard Republican Hinsdale N
25 Jim Oberweis Republican Sugar Grove N
26 Dan Duffy Republican Lake Barrington N
27 Matt Murphy Republican Palatine N
28 Dan Kotowski Democratic Park Ridge Y
29 Julie Morrison Democratic Deerfield Y
30 Terry Link Democratic Vernon Hills Y
31 Melinda Bush Democratic Grayslake Y
32 Pamela Althoff Republican Crystal Lake N
33 Karen McConnaughay Republican St. Charles N
34 Steve Stadelman Democratic Rockford Y
35 Dave Syverson Republican Rockford N
36 Mike Jacobs Democratic East Moline Y
37 Darin M. LaHood Republican Peoria N
38 Sue Rezin Republican Morris N
39 Don Harmon Democratic Oak Park Y
40 Toi Hutchinson Democratic Olympia Fields Y
41 Christine Radogno (Minority Leader) Republican Lemont N
42 Linda Holmes Democratic Aurora Y
43 Pat McGuire Democratic Joliet Y
44 Bill Brady Republican Bloomington N
45 Tim Bivins Republican Dixon N
46 David Koehler Democratic Pekin Y
47 John M. Sullivan Democratic Rushville N
48 Andy Manar Democratic Bunker Hill Y
49 Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant Democratic Shorewood Y
50 Sam McCann Republican N
51 Chapin Rose Republican Mahomet N
52 Mike Frerichs Democratic Gifford Y
53 Jason Barickman Republican Y (likely to be primaried from the right over this vote)
54 Kyle McCarter Republican Lebanon N
55 Dale "Mattoon Moron" Righter Republican Mattoon N
56 William R. Haine Democratic Alton N (possible primary target)
57 James Clayborne, Jr. (Majority Leader) Democratic Belleville A
58 David Luechtefeld Republican Okawville N
59 Gary Forby Democratic Benton N
Y = AYE, N = NO, P = Present, A = Abstained from Voting.
Senate Composition: 40-19, Democratic Party.
Democratic (40):
Y: 33
N: 3 (Forby, Haine, Sullivan)
P: 2 (Harris, Van Pelt)
A: 2 (Clayborne, Silverstein)
Republican (19):
Y: 1 (Barickman)
N: 18
P: 0
A: 0
Next Stop: The Illinois House of Representatives.
Projected vote date: as early as the end of February or sometime around March.
If the bill clears the house, it's off to Governor Pat Quinn. He will sign it into law, making Illinois the 10th state to legalize same-sex marriage.