Chief sponsors of a gay marriage bill
in Illinois say they'll push for a vote next month during the General
Assembly's lame-duck session.
“We think we can get this done in
January,” state Senator Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago,
told Chicago
Business.
Rep. Greg Harris, along with two other
openly gay representatives, Deb Mell and Kelly Cassidy, introduced
the marriage bill in February. Harris was also the primary sponsor
of Illinois' civil unions law.
Harris has previously said he would
only consider pushing the legislation when he has the votes. As
recently as a couple of weeks ago, Harris downplayed the likelihood
of a vote in January.
“The timing is right for us to push
this,” Harris said on Thursday.
“Folks are seeing what's going on
around the country,” he added, a reference to voters in four states
affirming such unions on Election Day.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has
reportedly already begun calling on lawmakers to urge a yes vote.