Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris has
said the climate on gay marriage “has changed in a huge way.”
In February, Harris, along with two
other openly gay representatives, Deb Mell and Kelly Cassidy,
introduced a bill legalizing marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
He is also the primary sponsor of legislation last year which created
civil unions for gay couples.
In recent interviews he has hinted that
the bill could come up for a vote later this month during the General
Assembly's lame duck session.
Speaking to Crain's
Chicago Business, Harris said approving marriage equality
legislation “is something we should be doing … The climate has
changed in a huge way.”
Harris was of course referring to
ballot measures in Maryland, Washington state and Maine legalizing
the institution. Minnesotans also rejected a constitutional
amendment banning it.
(Related: Washington
joins Maine, Maryland in approving gay marriage.)
Tuesday's votes “were very helpful,”
he said. “It becomes a much better vote for legislators from
suburban Cook County and the collar counties.”
Harris and Cassidy cautioned that it
all “comes down to when we can get 60 [House] votes.”