It’s about damn time.
SB 1716, a bill allowing civil unions in Illinois, was passed by the House in a 61-52 vote. The State Senate is expected to pass it and Governor Pat Quinn has said he will sign it into law.
Making this victory even sweeter was coming home to an “Urgent” Prayer Request email from the Illinois Family Institute that they sent earlier today:
Dave Smith is in Springfield with Linda Jernigan, a former lesbian, who has a powerful testimony and has been able to talk with many lawmakers. Our 2 lobbyists are also there working hard to keep lawmakers from caving into pressures. And the pressures are great! Things are very fluid as I write this message and there are arms being twisted and necks being stepped on to get the 60 votes needed in the House.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Isaiah 5:20-21
Will you join us in praying that God would intervene and stop this bill from passing?
Neither their god nor their lobbyists were very effective today.
Better for the rest of us who prefer equal rights instead of selective bigotry.
(Update: I know this civil unions bill isn’t the same as legalizing gay marriage. Believe me, I want the full marriage equality. But this is an important step in that direction and it’s nice to see the Illinois House admitting as much with their votes. Hell, it’s nice to see our state government doing damn near anything productive these days…)