Yesterday, Lambda Legal announced possible legislative traction in Illinois, which could possibly lead to a same-sex marriage vote in that state as early as January 2013(!!!):
Of course, both of these bills could crash and burn. It appears that Colorado's civil union bill is the most likely of the two bills to pass in 2013. Keep your collective fingers crossed!![]()
Plaintiff couples in Darby v. Orr and Lazaro v. Orr, the lawsuits brought by Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois seeking the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Illinois,met with legislators to urge them to vote in favor of a bill ending the ban on marriage for same-sex couples in Illinois. The bill, House Bill 5710, The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, could be voted on by the Illinois General Assembly in January 2013.Meanwhile, Colorado's legislature isn't looking towards marriage equality, but it's considering a civil union bill again:
"We want our lawmakers to know how important this is to our family," said Anne Dickey, plaintiff in Darby v. Orr. "Every day, our child feels different from his friends because Laura and I aren't allowed to get married. Whether it is through the courts or the legislature, we need the freedom to marry."
"Our family, our love and our commitment deserves the recognition and dignity of marriage," said Richard Rykhus, a plaintiff in Lazaro v. Orr. "We believe that Illinois law should recognize fully the family that we have built together."
Labor battles, gun fights, fracking and education financing will test lawmakers when the state legislature opens Jan. 9, but one issue is not in doubt: Colorado is poised to become the ninth state in the nation to allow same-sex couples to form civil unions. After two years of fighting over the issue, the Republicans who controlled the House and killed the measure are out of power, paving the way for a civil unions bill to head to Gov. John Hickenlooper, who supports legal recognition for same-sex couples.This will be the third attempt by Colorado Senator Pat Steadman to get a civil union bill passed through the state's Senate. The state's House had enough votes to pass it last year.
Of course, both of these bills could crash and burn. It appears that Colorado's civil union bill is the most likely of the two bills to pass in 2013. Keep your collective fingers crossed!
