Illinois Senate approves same-sex marriage
Gays and lesbians take part in a fake gay wedding celebrated by Green party Europe-Ecologie-Les Verts (EELV) activists on the second day of EELV’s summer party conference, on Aug. 19, 2011, in Clermont-Ferrand.
Valentine's Day 2013 was a special one in Illinois, when its Senate approved same-sex marriage.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the measure will now go to the House, where it is expected to have a more difficult time being passed, although Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign it if it reaches him.
"Marriage equality is coming to Illinois," Quinn said in his State of the State address last week, reported NBC Chicago. "I want to thank Senator Heather Steans and Representative Greg Harris for their work to move Illinois forward. Let's pass this bill for marriage equality."
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The Senate voted 34-21-2 in favor of the measure, noted NBC.
"This marriage bill is a distraction," said Republican State Sen. Dan Duffy, who criticized Democrats for using their "immense power" to move a social issue forward while Illinois is in financial trouble, according to Chicago's The Daily Herald.
Under the measure, marriage would officially be changed in state law to an act between two people as opposed to an act between a man and a woman, reported the Tribune. It would not force any religious denomination or minister to "solemnize any marriage." People in civil unions would also be able to convert them to marriages within one year of the law being approved.
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