A bill which seeks to legalize gay
marriage in Illinois will face its first hurdle in the House on
Tuesday.
The 11-member House Executive Committee
will hear the bill when it convenes Tuesday, February 26 at 3PM.
“The momentum is on the side of the
freedom to marry,” Bernard Cherkasov, CEO Of Equality Illinois told
ChicagoPride.com.
“And lawmakers realize that a clear majority of Illinoisans want
the representatives to vote in favor of the marriage bill. After
searching their conscience, lawmakers should ask themselves how their
vote will be remembered by their children, grandchildren, and
constituents – not just tomorrow but also two or five years from
now.”
The measure which seeks to make
Illinois the 10th state to legalize marriage equality
cleared the Senate last Thursday, Valentine's Day, with a 34-21 vote.
Democratic Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth told
Peoria CBS affiliate WMBD that she believes the bill will clear the
House.
“I do believe that the bill will pass
because the sponsor made it very clear that he would not call the
bill if he didn't have the votes and I think it's going to pass with
some bipartisanship as well,” Gordon-Booth said.
The sponsor Gordon-Booth was referring
to is Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago. Harris was also the House
champion of a civil unions bill which became law two years ago.
(Related: Support
for gay marriage increases in Illinois.)