Colorado: The Colorado House finally passed its civil union bill early this week. It now needs to go to Gov. John Hickenlooper. He has already promised to sign this bill into law!
Illinois: It was widely reported last week that supporters of a marriage equality bill are 10 votes short in the Illinois House.
Minnesota: This past Tuesday, the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee approved a marriage equality bill by a vote of 5-3. Later that day, the Minnesota House Civil Law Committee approved its own marriage equality bill by a vote of 10-7. Those who runs things plan to shore up more support before moving forward with the full House and Senate membership. As someone who spent his teen years in Minnesota and who still has a lot of family in that state, it's pretty exciting to imagine a future where my husband and I can move back north for work or retirement without fearing the legal implications regarding our family!
Odawa Indian Tribe: I reported last week that the tribal council of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians voted 5-4 in favor of allowing same-sex couples to get married and have their marriages recognized that the tribal government. It was my understanding that Little Traverse Bay Bands Chairman Dexter McNamara had to wait 28 days to sign off on this statute. Apparently that isn't so. Chairman McNamara not only signed off on the statute, but then officiated at the first gay marriage within the tribe this past Friday!
Plus, the Public Policy Polling group published the results of one poll this past week that addressed same-sex marriage and civil unions:
Pennsylvania: The PPP reported this past Wednesday that Pennsylvania voters support either marriage equality or civil unions as opposed to no legal recognition by a marriage of 74% to 24%. When asked if same-sex marriage should be allowed, only 45% agreed compared to 47% who disagreed. But when asked more specifically about same-sex marriage, civil unions, or nothing, 38% supported marriage, 36% supported civil unions, and only 24% opposed any legal recognition of gay relationships.