Greg Harris

HB 3515 “is harmful physically, it is harmful mentally, it is anti-science, and it seems to be designed to be personally hurtful to a group of people very intentionally.”

The Illinois House has a Democratic majority, and the bill passed that chamber.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says he used “the art of persuasion” with less than 10 lawmakers to help pass a bill allowing same-sex marriage.

CHICAGO — After months of energetic lobbying, both sides in the Illinois same-sex marriage debate are ready for a vote next week that supporters say would fulfill a pledge by the sponsor to bring the issue back to Springfield.

CHICAGO — Backers of a measure that would’ve legalized same-sex marriage in Illinois have written a letter to advocates saying it’s not the time for them “to splinter.”

The Illinois same-sex marriage bill had its deadline date for approval extended into the summer. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) acted quietly on Friday night before the House adjourned to extend the bill’s deadline for approval until August 31.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Despite urging from President Barack Obama in his home state and fierce on-the-ground campaigning, a legislative measure that would have made Illinois the 13th state to allow same-sex couples to marry didn’t rally enough support from lawmakers in the House.

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Thursday called on state lawmakers in the House to send him the bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, and said they have had enough time to consider the pending legislation.

CHICAGO — The results of a Crain’s/Ipsos Illinois Poll released this week found that 50 percent of the state’s adult residents support the same-sex marriage bill currently making its way through the Illinois state legislature.

Activists and lawmakers backing legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois are regrouping and recounting potential “yes” votes in the Illinois Senate after key members of the chamber reportedly said they will be absent from Thursday’s proceedings in the General Assembly’s lame duck session.

Illinois State Sen. Heather Steans (D) said Tuesday a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois will be heard by a Senate committee Wednesday night and a full Senate vote on a bill could come as early as Thursday.

Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris (D–Chicago) said he would not call his same-sex marriage bill to a vote during the Spring legislative session in the General Assembly. He said the votes “aren’t there” and he doesn’t see an advantage of having legislators on the record as a “no” when they could later become a “yes” vote.

CHICAGO — Illinois became the 12th U.S. state on Monday to grant legal recognition to same-sex couples. Gov. Pat Quinn drew cheers from a crowd of more than 1,000 people who turned out to witness him sign bill legalizing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.