Valentine’s Day could be extra special for gay and lesbian couples in Illinois.
The Illinois Senate hopes to pass a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state on Feb. 14, The
Chicago Sun-Times reports.
“I’d like to pass it out of committee next week and pass it on Valentine’s Day,” Senate President John Cullerton, a Democrat who represents Chicago, told The Sun-Times editorial board.
The bill, Cullerton said, has the 30 votes needed to pass and move to the House. The legislation stalled in the Senate last month.
If approved, Illinois would become the 10th state to legalize same-sex marriage, The Sun-Times reports.
The bill’s two primary sponsors — Sen. Heather Steans and Rep. Greg Harris, both Democrats and both of Chicago — are fine-tuning the language of the legislation, The Sun-Times reports.
They are addressing concerns from religious organizations that the bill would force them to hold gay marriage receptions at churches or similar facilities that have been deemed public gathering places because they are also used for polling places and other community events.
Other facilities would include a Knights of Columbus hall, The Sun-Times reports.
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