After yesterday's historic vote in favor of the Civil Unions bill in the House, today the Illinois Senate also voted to pass the Civil Unions Bill. So it's a done deal. I am not gay but I am so overjoyed I can hardly sit still!
After Gov. Quinn signs it into law (he lobbied for it in both the House and Senate, and has already said he will sign it) it will become effective July 1, 2011 (no clue why so long) and my gaybees will be able to be civilly unioned. No it's not marriage, but it's better than not having Civil Unions, and it's freaking wonderful! I am thrilled and am so proud of my adopted state.
GO ILLINOIS! And thank you Rep. Harris (openly gay man and sponsor of the original bill) and Sen. Koehler (a minster! and sponsor of the bill in the Senate) for all of your efforts, and for your passion for justice.
So fitting that it happens on World AIDS Day.
"Dr. King once said that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice, but here is the thing: it does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own ways put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice...." Barack Obama, April 4, 2008
I am verklempt.
http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/14682400
Yay!! (July 1 is beginning of the state's fiscal year.)
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