Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Our Facebook readers had plenty of their own opinions on Kirk's Tuesday announcement.
Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk surprised many in announcing his support of same-sex civil marriage Tuesday. Kirk is just the second Republican Senator to buck his party with his stance. In a statement on his website Kirk said, “When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others. Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage. Our time on this Earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back-- government has no place in the middle.” Patch Facebook readers from across our network had plenty to say Tuesday. Here’s a sampling of their opinions: David E. It's Jedi like. Good move senator and a …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Executive Committee members voted largely along party lines Tuesday night.
Members of the Illinois House Executive Committee voted 6-5 Tuesday night to advance the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois. Senate Bill 10 was approved by State Senators on Valentine’s Day. It now heads for a full vote by the House of Representatives. Read: Illinois Senate Approves Gay Marriage: How Plainfield's Reps Voted On Tuesday night, committee members voted along party lines, with Democrats supporting the marriage fairness act and Republicans voting against the measure, save for one exception, according to the Huffington Post. Democrat Eddie Lee Jackson Sr. of East St. Louis voted against the bill. No definite date has been set for a full House vote on the bill. Related:
Monday, February 11, 2013
The Boy Scouts of America may reconsider its ban on allowing openly gay people to participate. Do you think they should? Take our poll below.
Last week it was announced that the Boy Scouts of America was reconsidering its policy barring openly gay people from participating in the private organization, but just days later announced it was postponing the decision. That the group was considering the change after taking the issue all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it won its case, was a surprise to many. We'd like to know what you think about this issue. While the organization is legally entitled to keep gays from its ranks, should they? Take our poll below, and feel free to post your opinion in the comment box below. Related: Illinois Takes Step Toward Gay Marriage
Friday, February 8, 2013
Legislators in support of same-sex marriage have a long way to go, but the ball is rolling.
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Friday, February 8
A same-sex marriage bill may be voted on in the Illinois Senate as early as Valentine’s Day, the Chicago Tribune reports. Sen. Heather Seans, D-Chicago, sponsored the bill in last month’s lame duck session, but it took until Tuesday for it to advance past committee action in a 9-5 vote, according to the report. The bill will now go to floor process where the entire Senate will consider its passage. Should it make it through the Senate readings, it will go before the House, where the process will be repeated. If it passes the House—a big "if," according to the Tribune—it then goes up for consideration by Governor Pat Quinn. Quinn recently told the Tribune he completely supports same-sex marriage. For more, read the Chicago Tribune report…
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Gov. Pat Quinn give his fifth State of the State address on Wednesday afternoon. What do you think should be his top priorities over the next year? Tell us in the comments' section.
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Wednesday, February 6
Written by Amie Schaenzer Gov. Pat Quinn voiced his support for gay marriage in Illinois, a minimum wage hike and tougher gun laws during his State of the State speech Wednesday afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Associated Press has posted the full text from Quinn's State of the State speech. Here are some of the highlights: Quinn also spent much of his speech touting his accomplishments during his term as governor, such as cuts to Medicaid and ethics laws that have been passed, according to Crain's Chicago. Quinn has said he will run for re-election in 2014. If he does, he is expected to have an opponent in the March 2014 Democratic primary. Quinn has gotten low approval ratings in recent months. A Democratic-leaning …
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Take our poll below and tell us whether you think a tax increase for the most wealthy or spending cuts to social service programs is the way to go.
A crisis is looming if the federal government cannot resolve the so-called "fiscal cliff" dilemma by Dec. 31. In a simplified nutshell, that means that a long-term, bipartisan budget reduction plan must be agreed upon by the president and Congress or two things will be triggered: all of the tax cuts put into effect during the George W. Bush administration will expire and $1.2 million in mandatory spending cuts will start kicking in. President Obama and the Democrats want taxes to increase for those who make the most money, which Republicans oppose. The Republicans want to see spending cuts, and favor reducing money earmarked for many social service programs, which Democrats oppose. So, which side of the coin do you fall on? Take our poll …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Indications are growing stronger that the General Assembly may take on the issue of same-sex unions in the "lame duck" veto session. Tell us what you think.
Crain's Chicago Business reported last week that the Illinois General Assembly may be ready to approve gay marriage in January as part of the "lame duck" veto session. Crain's Greg Hinz wrote: "Legal gay marriage may be coming to Illinois as soon as next month. "After counting heads and consulting with legislative leaders, the chief sponsors of a bill to permit same-sex couples to get married in the state disclosed this morning that they intend to push for a vote in the General Assembly's lame-duck session, which will occur over two weeks just after New Year's. "And, in an indication of how big a campaign the pro side is launching, they've hired the firm founded by top presidential adviser David Axelrod to help them with media, …
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Ed Hamilton and Gary Magruder are one of 25 Illinois couples represented by a pair of civil rights lawsuits.
Like many couples, they still remember the day they met: Jan. 17, 1964. Unlike many couples, however, they had to wait four decades to make their union official. In 2004 — on their 40th anniversary — Ed Hamilton and Gary Magruder traveled to Canada to be married in a Protestant ceremony. The wedding came seven years before civil unions were legalized in Illinois, but when they were, the couple went down to the Will County Courthouse to make it official in the eyes of the state. Now, the Plainfield men, both retired educators, are part of the fight to make gay marriage legal in Illinois. “We’re asking for equal rights, not a two-tier system where there is marriage and somewhere below that is civil unions,” Hamilton said. “That is the real …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
The president and vice president are on the same side of a divisive issue, but they might differ on their own partnership.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Starting Wednesday, gay and lesbian couples will have access to many of the same legal rights that married heterosexual couples have.
Sarah Stumpf had her dream wedding in October 2010. “We got married in October. We got married in a relatively small, private religious ceremony,” she said. “Our first wedding was perfect.” On Friday, she'll get enter another union, not to renew the vows she already made, but to get the legal rights and protections that married couples enjoy. Stumpf and her wife, Diana Braunshausen, of Romeoville, will enter into a civil union this week as Sarah and Diana Stausen (a combination of their last names). The Will County Clerk’s Office will begin issuing civil union licenses Wednesday, providing the legal rights and benefits that married couples have. On Jan. 31, Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil…
Natalie Stevens
9:11 am on Saturday, April 6, 2013
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