Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn
A week after Hawaii became the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage, Illinois became the 16th.
The Washington Post reported that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage Wednesday. After signing the bill at the University of Chicago-Illinois, Quinn stood and raised it over his head with one arm as the large crowd applauded, the Post wrote.
Later, the governor tweeted: “It’s official. #MarriageEquality is the law of the land in Illinois!” In another tweet he wrote, “This is an epic victory for equal rights in America. #IL is moving forward. We are a model for our country.”
The state will begin allowing gay marriages starting in the summer.
