An editorial piece in The Chicago Tribune examines why the same-sex marriage bill up for a vote in the Illinois General Assembly ought to be passed. The ACLU of Illinois has been working with a coalition of organizations, along with the bill's sponsors to promote marriage equality for all Illinoisans.
The most crucial gain is to afford protections to the young. Many gay couples have biological children by one partner or the other, and many others are adoptive parents. With gays as well as straights, marriage serves to promote commitment, stability and financial solvency. If same-sex couples can make the legal commitment and choose to assume all the obligations that come with matrimony, they will be more likely to stay together.
That's good for kids. It's also good for communities, since it minimizes the unwanted side effects of broken homes.
