Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Tuesday
called on the Illinois House to approve a stalled gay marriage bill.
“The time for marriage equality has
come,” Quinn, a Democrat, told supporters gathered inside the
capitol rotunda. “This is our hour, this is our moment. This is
where we the people of Illinois come together for marriage equality.”
Supporters descended on Springfield on
Tuesday as lawmakers reconvened for the short fall session.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin also endorsed
the measure, calling on lawmakers to “reject the values of division
and intolerance.”
The rally comes a day after New Jersey
became the 14th state to allow gay and lesbian couples to
marry. The victory, which came after Republican Governor Chris
Christie ended his legal fight against a court decision ordering the
state to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, took
marriage equality supporters by surprise and angered opponents.
(Related: Brian
Brown: Chris Christie “threw in the towel on marriage.”)
Unlike New Jersey, however, the largest
obstacle to victory in Illinois is not the governor, but the
Democrat-controlled House, which failed in May to go along with the
Senate in approving the marriage bill.
Analysts believe lawmakers will punt on
the issue once again and move the debate to January, after the threat
of primary challengers has passed.
(Related: Will
Illinois gay marriage bill stall as debate returns to Springfield?)
Opponents are expected to stage what
they are calling “Defend Marriage Lobby Day” on Wednesday.