# Hooray, Illinois - Marriage equality bill sent to governor for signing! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 6, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197 "2013-11-06T00:18:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/1 "2013-11-06T00:18:37Z")
[And he’ll sign it too!](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/us/illinois-sends-bill-allowing-gay-marriage-to-governor.html) Illinois becomes the 15th state to have marriage equality; this state allowed civil unions. The IL Senate passed the marriage equality bill on Valentine’s Day but there weren’t the votes to pass it in the House, until now. The House passed it today and the Senate hastily re-approved it (due to amendments made). I did my part of petitioning my rep to vote yea, even citing numerous well-regarded polls showing support in our county, but to no avail - glad to see this wasn’t a needed vote! ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/2 "2013-11-06T01:16:59Z")
What, really??? There goes my excuse for not getting married (not until everyone can), but still, great news!! ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/3 "2013-11-06T01:40:54Z")
I am really excited by this! I didn’t think it was going to happen, but here we are! Way to go, Illinois! :eek: 😃🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/4 "2013-11-06T01:53:03Z")
FANTASTIC! I’m so proud of Illinois. Though, why do couples have to wait until June? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/5 "2013-11-06T02:22:18Z")
Probably some technicality about laws coming into effect at the end of the session, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/6 "2013-11-06T06:02:31Z")
Ah, ok, thanks. Well, couples have waited this long, I guess a few extra months will allow more time to plan the weddings. I’ve always cheered when this happened in other states. I’m giddy and teary that it’s finally happening in my adopted state. What a wonderful thing! ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/7 "2013-11-06T06:11:24Z")
Holy Cow! Some of my family is going to lose their shit - some because they’re happy and some because they’re pissed - and I can’t wait to see both 😃 Way to go Illinois! ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/8 "2013-11-06T06:12:27Z")
What states are next? I’ve heard Hawaii’s close. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/9 "2013-11-06T13:20:45Z")
New Mexico may also be close. NM state law doesn’t specifically allow or prohibit same-sex marriage, so some county clerks have already started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. There’s a case which has already been argued before the state Supreme Court, so it could be legal state-wide any day now if the court hands down a favourable decision. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/10 "2013-11-06T13:23:00Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > What states are next? I’ve heard Hawaii’s close. Didn’t it recently pass the Hawaiian Senate? I’m not sure what the next steps are, but they’ve got legislation in progress. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/11 "2013-11-06T13:59:11Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Didn’t it recently pass the Hawaiian Senate? I’m not sure what the next steps are, but they’ve got legislation in progress. The Senate passed it, and a House committee has [sent it to the floor for a vote](http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23887893/watch-at-5-house-committees-pass-same-sex-marriage-bill-advances-to-floor-for-vote) (with amendments). ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/12 "2013-11-06T15:22:57Z")
Illinois is billion$ in debt and its government can’t find the time to fix that problem; however, they can expend effort to pass things like gay marriage laws and other things that in the long term doesn’t have much meaning to most of its residents. Nero allegedly fiddling while Rome burned had nothing on Quinn and Illinois! For the record I’m a resident of Illinois and have a gay daughter who had to get married in another State. My problem is with the the State of Illinois going into a financial disaster which will affect all the residents of Illinois. They should spend time fixing that problem first. BTW: My daughter and her partner moved out of Illinois in great part due to the job climate and high taxes! Ironic. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/13 "2013-11-06T15:28:09Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Probably some technicality about laws coming into effect at the end of the session, I suspect. That’s exactly it. I don’t know the legislative details but having the effective date occur in the next session lowered the threshold it needed to pass in Assembly. > [@JerrySTL](#): > > Illinois is billion$ in debt and its government can’t find the time to fix that problem; however, they can expend effort to pass things like gay marriage laws and other things that in the long term doesn’t have much meaning to most of its residents. The state legislature has spent a ton of time on the budget and pension issues. I wish they’d fix them. I don’t believe that they were going to be fixed yesterday if only they hadn’t spent the time on this instead. I’m happy they passed this and I’ll be happy as well when they work out a budget solution. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/14 "2013-11-06T15:44:54Z")
**JerrySTL** , in other words, “the economy is more important than human rights, and it’s a zero-sum game.” I understand that you’re not against gay marriage, but it seems a bit mean to come into a celebratory thread to imply that this was unnecessary in Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/15 "2013-11-06T16:59:57Z")
Is “I have a son/daughter/relative who’s gay (but to hell with them)” the new “My best friend is black (but to hell with them)” meme? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/16 "2013-11-06T17:12:45Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The state legislature has spent a ton of time on the budget and pension issues. I wish they’d fix them. I don’t believe that they were going to be fixed yesterday if only they hadn’t spent the time on this instead. I’m happy they passed this and I’ll be happy as well when they work out a budget solution. Yup. The Senate passed the bill back in February, and in case he hadn’t noticed, the Assembly hasn’t been spending every single intervening day on marriage equality debates. If you want to have a goddamned valid point, bitch about every time they do stupid things like pass little resolutions to congratulate individual people on their birthdays (check the records, they’re in there), rather than spending parts of a few days ensuring people have basic human rights and equality. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/17 "2013-11-06T17:46:49Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > BTW: My daughter and her partner moved out of Illinois in great part due to the job climate and high taxes! Ironic. I’m sure that having a parent who thinks that her right to get married to that partner is meaningless had nothing to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/18 "2013-11-06T18:22:42Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I’m sure that having a parent who thinks that her right to get married to that partner is meaningless had nothing to do with it. I have no trouble with my daughter’s sexual orientation. I attended her wedding. I am friends with her partner. We talk almost daily on the phone. We rode bicycles across Missouri together a couple of years ago. Our family, which includes her partner, eat dinner together at least once every couple of weeks. And so on. My problem with Illinois and gay marriage is that there are much, much more pressing needs to be address. I’d have the same problem, actually more problem, with Illinois politicians worrying about the State Bird or some other non-critical issue. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/19 "2013-11-06T18:25:41Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > My problem with Illinois and gay marriage is that there are much, much more pressing needs to be address. I’d have the same problem, actually more problem, with Illinois politicians worrying about the State Bird or some other non-critical issue. It’s non-critical _to you_. For a lot of gay couples, legal recognition of their marriage is a very critical issue indeed, especially if they’re being denied access to all sorts of legal benefits. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197/20 "2013-11-06T18:34:52Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > My problem with Illinois and gay marriage is that there are much, much more pressing needs to be address. I’d have the same problem, actually more problem, with Illinois politicians worrying about the State Bird or some other non-critical issue. So you think that your daughter’s ability to marry and have all of the rights associated with marriage is the equivalent of “the State Bird or some other non-critical issue?” Do you not understand why people might find that stance objectionable? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-illinois-marriage-equality-bill-sent-to-governor-for-signing/673197.md?page=2)