Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed by Illinois House and Senate

By Jeffrey Knipmeyer on November 11, 2013

Illinois legislators in both the House and Senate have passed a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage. Governor Pat Quinnis expected to sign the bill sometime in the near future. It is highly likely the bill will officially become law by next summer.

The House passed the bill with a 61-54 vote after more than two hours of debate. The Senate took only an hour to send the bill on its way toward approval with its own passing vote.

One of the bill’s sponsors said, “At the end of the day, all we’re talking about is treating every family in the state of Illinois with the same equality and justice under the law as others.”

One Republican legislator opposed the bill on the grounds of “[protecting] the institution of marriage.” In the House’s regular session earlier this year, the bill was never brought to a vote due to such opposition. However, activists and prominent politicians rallied for the bill’s approval throughout the year and garnered support for its passage. President Barack Obama was one of the bill’s strongest supporters, along with numerous Illinois mayors and senators.

Gay and lesbian communities in cities throughout the State celebrated the good news. Some couples got engaged right away with the hope of being able to marry next summer.

“It’s huge for our family, it’s huge for our son. I can’t tell you how it feels to be accepted, understood, vindicated, all of those things,” said one reveler.

Jeffrey Knipmeyer and his partners at the Chicago LGBT family law firm of Nottage and Ward have advocated for their gay and lesbian clients throughout the many years of their practice and are happy to hear that such progress has been made toward marriage equality for same-sex couples. They hope to see the bill finalized so that same-sex couples can receive the legal protections they and their family deserve.