Illinois

Today, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed the marriage equality bill into law at a ceremony in Springfield. Jim Bennett, Regional Director of Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office, attended the historic signing. 

With a vote of 61-54, today the Illinois House of Representatives passed The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, a historic vote that sends the bill first to the Senate for a concurring vote and then to Governor Pat Quinn who has pledged to sign it.

Last week, nearly five-thousand supporters of The Illinois Marriage Bill – SB 10 – descended upon Springfield, the Illinois state capitol.  The Illinois March for Marriage Equality brought together many families and organizations, both local and national to urge our legislators to call the marriage bill for a vote. Among these organizations and supporters was Lambda Legal.   

Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit today on behalf of Steven White and Matthew McCrea, a gay couple who were unlawfully refused service and forced to exit a Chicago cab after they exchanged a kiss.