same sex marriage
You may be able to hear wedding bells ringing very soon in Illinois within the LGBT community. Same sex marriage is one step closer to being legalized in the state of Illinois. This past Valentine’ s Day, the Illinois senate passed the measure to legalize same sex marriage with a 34 to 21 vote. It would have to be passed by the State House of Representatives next to complete the process. According to CNN, Governor Pat Quinn has indicated that he is willing to sign the bill to legalize same sex marriage. President Obama has also announced his support of same sex marriage.
If the bill is passed, Illinois would be the 10th state plus the District of Columbia to legalize same sex marriage. Hawaii, Delaware and Rhode Island are also considering legalizing same sex marriage. The state of Illinois already has civil union laws in place. Illinois Issues reported that“ in the first six months after civil unions were made legal, 3,700 couples sought civil union licenses in 90 of Illinois’ 102 counties.”
The legalization of same sex marriage would provide couples with the same rights that heterosexual couples have. Same sex couples will have access to basic rights such as; hospital visitation during illness, inheritance rights, taxation, health insurance coverage and protection when a relationship ends. The LGBT community has argued that not being able to legally marry is discrimination and unconstitutional.
Timeline of Same-Sex Marriage Bans and Legalizations by Effective Date of Laws Source:“ 6 States with Legal Gay Marriage and 41 States with Same-Sex Marriage Bans,” ProCon. org, Aug. 23, 2012
By: Nsenga Wilson
14 LEZ ELEGANCE