Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is expected
to sign a gay marriage bill into law on Wednesday.
Three-thousand people are expected to
show up for the bill's signing ceremony, which will take place at UIC
Forum, the 22,000 square foot open space at the University of
Illinois in Chicago.
“Marriage equality is coming to
Illinois,” Quinn, a Democrat, said in announcing details of the
signing ceremony. “I look forward to signing this landmark
legislation on November 20 and celebrating a big step forward with
the people of Illinois.”
In 2011, Quinn signed a civil unions
bill into law at an event that drew roughly 1,000 people to the
Chicago Cultural Center.
The Illinois Senate approved the
marriage bill on Valentine's Day, the House followed suit earlier
this month by a slim margin.
Passage in Illinois follows similar
gains this fall in New Jersey and Hawaii.
The law will take effect on June 1,
2014.
(Related: Passage
of gay marriage to blame for Illinois tornadoes, Catholic group
suggests.)