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Filed: Thursday, April 14, 2011

Illinois Senate committee kills anti-gay adoption measure


The Illinois Senate has voted down a controversial measure that would have allowed religious and faith-based groups deny same-sex couples from adopting or fostering children.

The provision, an amendment to a SB1123, a bill “concerning the rights of the blind and others,” failed to get out of the Senate Executive Committee with a vote of 7 to 6. There was 1 abstention.

The amendment was sponsored by Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria), one of the champions of the recently-passed civil unions bill. He said it was a deal he’d made so as not to “force groups to work against their beliefs.”

“This is a huge victory for the LGBTQ community and families across Illinois,” said Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of the Illinois Civil Rights Agenda, in a statement.

“This is also a huge win for the tens of thousands of children that are in the adoption and foster system and need loving families,” Martinez said.

Tags: Adoption, Family and Parenting, Foster Care, Illinois

Filed under: Illinois

COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE:

6 MORE READER COMMENTS:

  1. WTG ILLINOIS!

    Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 11:03pm
  2. Fantastic!!!! WTG!!!

    Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 6:45am
  3. That’s my state ;)

    Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 12:16pm
  4. That’s my state ;)

    Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 12:16pm
  5. Omg Illinois, you have harsh principles, but this was not expected. YAY :D

    Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 7:59am
  6. Omg Illinois, you have harsh principles, but this was not expected. YAY :D

    Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 7:59am