On Friday, a Chicago Tribune
editorial summed up gay marriage in Illinois as a foregone
conclusion.
The piece was published in response to
a letter to the Sun-Times written by Chicago Mayor Rahm
Emanuel.
“Marriage equality is the next step
in our nation's march forward,” Emanuel wrote. “Illinois must
lead the way.”
Eric Zorne disagreed, saying it's “too
late for leadership.”
“All Illinois can do now is hop on
the train of history. All the trend lines show it's about to roll
over the obstinate states where legislators refuse to recognize the
inevitability, if not the wisdom and justice, of same-sex couples
getting the same rights to formalize their relationships that are
enjoyed by opposite-sex couples,” he wrote.
In February, Illinois state Rep. Greg
Harris, along with two other openly gay representatives, Deb Mell and
Kelly Cassidy, introduced a bill legalizing marriage for gay couples.
Lawmakers could vote on the measure as
early as this month during a lame duck session. Democratic Governor
Pat Quinn backs passage of the bill.