SPRINGFIELD — After more than two-and-a-half hours of debate, the Illinois House of Representatives narrowly approved a same-sex marriage bill Tuesday, putting the state in line to become the 15th to legalize gay unions.
The Chicago Tribune reported supporters said it’s time for Illinois to make marriage equal for all, and opponents raised concerns about protecting the institution of marriage and the religious beliefs of those who say marriage should be between a man and a woman.
The bill, SB10 received 61 votes, just over the 60 votes needed to proceed. The bill then went back for another vote in the Senate, where it passed 32-21. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has promised to sign the bill into law.
The bill, originally passed 34 to 21 in February by the state’s Senate, will as amended legalize same sex marriage effective June 1, 2014, according to The Atlantic Wire.
Hawaii is likely to be the next state to legalize same-sex marriage. Its state Senate passed such a bill Oct. 30, and the Hawaii state House is expected to vote on the measure in a matter of days.
