Illinois House committee advances gay marriage bill

[mucifer]

SPRINGFIELD—A bill legalizing gay marriage cleared a Democratic-led committee late Tuesday and now moves to the full House, where the issue is expected to meet its toughest test.

The proposal, approved on a 6-5 vote in the House Executive Committee shortly before 10 p.m., is coming under increasingly heavy fire from church organizations who say same-sex marriage violates moral and religious principles. But advocates have ratcheted up calls for swift action.

Sponsoring Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, said the bill is needed “because we need to treat all Illinois families equally under the law” but the status of people in civil unions is often misunderstood.

Under the measure, marriage in Illinois would be allowed between two people rather than only a man and a woman. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has vowed to sign the legislation, a move that would make Illinois the 10th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. The Senate passed the legislation with only one Republican vote on Valentine’s Day.
- See more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illinois-house-committee-advances-gay-marriage-bill-20130226,0,2909027.story#sthash.vKxToEVH.dpuf

Looks like it's coming soon!

[Gorp]

1. Excellent news, but doesn't that mean the full house still needs to vote on it?