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Freedom to Marry Bill To Be Swiftly Introduced on First Day of New Illinois General Assembly |
Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Representative Greg Harris
(D-Chicago) file Senate and House bills, ask constituents to contact their
legislators in support
SPRINGFIELD - January 9, 2013 - Today, the legislative sponsors of the
Illinois marriage equality bill plan to file Senate and House bills that
would grant all Illinois couples the freedom to marry. On the first day of
the new legislative session, sponsors Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago)
and Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) say they will work to pass the
legislation, known as the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,
shortly after members of the 98th General Assembly are sworn in.
'Last week, the Senate Executive Committee made history by approving
same-sex marriage and gave our efforts incredible momentum,' Senator
Steans said. 'With the full support of Senate President John Cullerton, I
am confident legislators will grant all Illinois couples the freedom to
marry this year.'
'We are one step closer to equality in the Land of Lincoln,' added
Representative Harris. 'The bills we filed today will treat all couples
equally under the law. We are going full steam ahead on this.'
Illinois Unites for Marriage -- a coalition led by Equality Illinois,
Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois -- is continuing its statewide
campaign in support of the bill, marshaling support and urging allies to
step up contacts with their legislators.
The organizations leading Illinois Unites applauded the prompt
introduction of the bills by Harris and Steans on the first day of the new
session and on the heels of the successful Senate committee vote last
week.
The coalition supporting the right of all loving, committed couples to
marry -- already strong with business, labor and community leaders, civic
organizations, faith institutions and members of the clergy,
African-American and Hispanic leaders, Republicans and Democrats --
continues to grow. Together, the coalition represents all walks of life
and all areas of Illinois.
'No House or Senate member can deny the breadth of support and widespread
belief that treating all Illinois couples fairly and equally is the right
and responsible thing to do in Illinois. Same-sex couples and their
children cannot wait any longer,' the Illinois Unites coalition stated.
Coalition members also noted that marriage equality legislation has been
endorsed by nearly every major newspaper in Illinois, including the
Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Herald, the Peoria
Journal Star, the Springfield Journal-Register and the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch.
Steans and Harris noted that support for marriage equality is building
across Illinois, as it is in the country. Recent polls show that a
majority of Americans believe gays and lesbians should have the freedom to
marry, and polling shows a majority of Illinoisans likewise support it.
The recent supportive editorial from the Springfield Journal-Register
stated, 'gay marriage is the civil rights issue of the generation.' The
Peoria Journal-Star wrote earlier this week in its supportive editorial
that, 'Marriage is a good thing. It comes with obligations to partner and
family that are good for society and provide stability. ... Marriage
equality is coming.'
The bill also shares the support of Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady, who
said last week that, '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.'
Both bills include language identical to the Religious Freedom and
Marriage Fairness Act, which the Senate Executive Committee passed last
week. Information about the bills is available at www.illinoisunites.org,
along with information about how citizens can make their voices heard.
For additional information, contact Eric Herman at 312.445.4824 or
773.405.8124.
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Freedom to Marry Bill To Be Swiftly Introduced on First Day of New Illinois General Assembly
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