Gay Marriage Bill Passes In Illinois House

Cranky

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So, yay! The measure passed pretty narrowly, but it passed! And it's likely to be signed by the governor.

Best news I've had all day. We're up to, I think, 16 states that have legalized gay marriage. ETA: Illinois would make 15. But still! All 50 would be better, of course, but it's definitely getting there, and sooner rather than later.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/23558841-418/gay-marriage-bill-passes-in-illinois-house.html

“This bill will give them a better future,” Harris said in a steady voice, referring to same-sex couples across the state. “It’ll help families to show their love and commitment to each other and give all families a chance to live as full and equal citizens in the greatest country on the face of the earth.”
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regdog

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Amos Gunner

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Meanwhile the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA) could very well die in the House.

Can we please stop this tedious state-by-state, issue-by-issue waddle toward the right thing? I insist we need a comprehensive equal rights amendment to cover issues such as marriage, work discrimination, housing discrimination (perfectly legal to deny homosexuals housing in some areas), etc. Once that's done, we can all go "Woo" one last loud time and go about our lives.
 
Shadow Dragon

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Amos Gunner said:
Meanwhile the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA) could very well die in the House.

Can we please stop this tedious state-by-state, issue-by-issue waddle toward the right thing? I insist we need a comprehensive equal rights amendment to cover issues such as marriage, work discrimination, housing discrimination (perfectly legal to deny homosexuals housing in some areas), etc. Once that's done, we can all go "Woo" one last loud time and go about our lives.
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Sadly, that'd take a major overhaul of congress. There's too many that would oppose it based on morality and religion, as well as those that would oppose it on principle to protect states' rights.
 
RichardGarfinkle

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Amos Gunner said:
Meanwhile the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA) could very well die in the House.

Can we please stop this tedious state-by-state, issue-by-issue waddle toward the right thing? I insist we need a comprehensive equal rights amendment to cover issues such as marriage, work discrimination, housing discrimination (perfectly legal to deny homosexuals housing in some areas), etc. Once that's done, we can all go "Woo" one last loud time and go about our lives.
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While a comprehensive ERA would be an excellent idea and the process for it should be started, that process would require s state by state slog. It would also require 2/3 majorities in both houses of Congress.

Article V of the US Constitution:

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
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In the meantime we need to pass these laws for the good of the people. Living in a Republic is like this. Right action requires that enough people be willing to vote for right action. The good that comes from participatory government carries with it the acceptance of the participation of people one disagrees with, even the participation of people whose views are cruel.

Persuasion and voting are the proper tools in a Republic. They're what we have and what we should use.

And the persuasion is working. The change in attitude and cultural awareness in my lifetime has been amazing.
 
Don

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That's great news for the Illinois GLBT community.

OTOH, figuratively speaking, Uncle Sam (or 1/50th of Uncle Sam) has taken time off from his spying, robbing, killing, micro-managing ways and brought Lady Liberty a box of candy, in hopes she'll forget his spying, robbing, killing, micro-managing ways... and Lady Liberty has gone all gooey in response.

Thing is, Lady Liberty owned the candy all along, but she's thanking Uncle Sam for allowing her to eat it???

See also: the de Tocqueville quote in my signature.
 
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Mara

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YAY! It's frustrating that it's taking so long, but better than nothing.

Also, Virginia's governor-elect is going to reinstate protections for LGBT government workers as soon as he gets into office.
 
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