The Daily Herald has a great play-by-play piece on yesterday's vote on the marriage bill in the Illinois House. Once the Governor signs the bill (SB 10), same-sex couples in Illinois will be able to wed beginning on June 1, 2014. The ACLU of Illinois worked as part of the Illinois Unites for Marriage campaign to help lobby and advocate for the freedom to marry, and also represents nine Illinois couples in Lazaro v. Orr, which will likely be dismissed once the bill is officially law.
The road to the Illinois vote was long with a stalled attempt earlier this year, something that frustrated activists in a state where Democrats lead the House, Senate and governor's office. Chicago Democratic Rep. Greg Harris, who is the proposal's lead sponsor, decided not to bring the bill for a vote in May because he said he simply didn't have the support.
Then the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to strike down a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, something Harris said resonated with lawmakers. Backers also launched a furious campaign, hiring a union lobbyist, the former head of the Illinois Republican Party and field organizers statewide.
