ILLINOIS: Civil Unions PASS In House

The Illinois state House has approved its civil unions bill by a vote of 61-52!

Openly gay Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), who co-sponsored SB 1716, started his opening statement at 5:17 p.m on Tuesday. "Once in every generation," he said, "legislatures across the country have a chance to advance the cause of liberty and justice for all. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (SB 1716) which passed to cheers in the chamber with a 61-52 majority vote, received support from the Democratic leadership in Springfield, including Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who was present.

Also this afternoon the Illinois state Senate moved its version of the civil unions bill out of committee by a vote of 6-2. The state Senate will now vote on a concurrence bill.