By Renita Young
CHICAGO, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Democratic lawmakers began a
drive to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois by Valentine’s
Day, but the fate of the effort is in doubt because the state
faces a financial crisis that could overshadow other issues.
A committee of the state Senate on Tuesday approved a
measure to legalize same-sex marriage by a 9 to 5 vote with
Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed, paving the way for a
possible vote in the full upper chamber next week.
“Now is the time for the next step in providing equal rights
to all people in Illinois,” Democratic Governor Pat Quinn said
in a statement after the vote.
If approved by the legislature and signed by Quinn, Illinois
would be the 10th state, plus the District of Columbia, to
legalize same-sex marriages. It also would be the first
Midwestern state to approve same-sex marriage through the
legislature. Iowa’s Supreme Court legalized such marriages there
in 2009.
In 2011, Illinois state lawmakers approved civil unions for
same-sex couples, but gay rights advocates said this did not go
far enough. President Barack Obama endorsed same-sex marriage
last year and recently issued a statement supporting the efforts
to legalize same-sex nuptials in his home state.
Rikeesha Phelon, a spokeswoman for state Senate President
John Cullerton said: “He is hopeful that we will be able to pass
the bill before Valentine’s Day.”
Supporters of same-sex marriage tried last month to pass a
bill in the state Senate. It was approved by a committee but was
never brought to a vote on the floor of the chamber because
majority support was uncertain.
Since then, Democrats have gained seats in both the state
House and Senate, encouraging supporters to try again.
During the committee debate on Tuesday, opponents cited
religious concerns in resisting legalization.
“This bill puts the state very much in the church’s
business,” said minister Keith Williams, and he interpreted the
Bible as advocating opposition to gay marriage.
To soothe such concerns, sponsors said they revised the
bill to allow religious clergy the option to refuse to solemnize
such marriages, an approach that helped New York state overcome
opposition to gay marriage.
The bill could still be derailed by the state’s financial
crisis. Quinn’s “state of the state” speech on Wednesday is
expected to be dominated by the grim fiscal situation and calls
for action on pension reform.
Some lobbying groups are asking the state legislature to put
aside everything else to focus on financial issues.
Three states approved same-sex marriage by referendum in the
November election — Maryland, Maine and Washington. Rhode
Island, the last state in New England which has not legalized
same-sex marriage, moved a step closer last month with approval
by its state House of Representatives.
(Additional reporting by Joanne von Alroth; Editing by Greg
McCune and Bob Burgdorfer)
