Amazing progress! Just to think to it may not be alone in the US with Rhode Island and Delaware hot on it’s heels! Down in D.C the Supreme court is rolling along towards striking down D.O.M.A. Across the pond in Europe, we’ll be celebrating in London, Paris and Edinburgh..and maybe even Luxembourg. Then fly down to Latin America and things are really hotting up in Mexico, Uruguay and Colombia! Wow, 2013′s going to be an amazing year in our struggle for civil rights!
Not that much of a surprise to those of us with friends in the state, but still excellent news. If California reinstates marriage equality and Illinois implements it will massively increase the numbers of LGBT Americans able to marry. Wonderful news all in all.
Illinois has NO EXCUSE now on delaying same sex marriage, because Democrats have a huge super-majority in both Illinois Houses and a Democrat Governor!
Why even the delay in the “lame-duck session”?
The those of you who are no familiar with the meaning of the “lame duck session” – it means that politicians have been replaced with someone else in the November US Elections (happens every 2 years for lawmakers and every 4 years for US Governors and US Presidents) and in the short 3 to 4 weeks left of the legislature they can actually introduce or pass any law they like without a mandate (for example pay rises for themselves and unpopular legislation on work unions control)!
Also the bill to repeal the unconstitutional US DADT (Don’t ask, don’t tell) policy in Congress – passed during the 2010 lame duck session!
There is no reason why the law shouldn’t pass. Illinois was the first state in the USA to decriminalise homosexuality fifty years ago with no other states following suit until the 1970′s. The movement towards marriage equality throughout the 50 (or 51 if you include Puerto Rico) States is beginning to snowball.
The speed of this progress is exhilarating and was unimaginable just a couple of years ago. Thank you to Obama and all enlightened politicians and lawmakers in the world who are making this happen.
There is no right of people’s veto in Illinois so there couldn’t be a referendum like the ones held in Washington and Maryland this year and in Maine in 2009 to strike down the laws.
It’s also not easy to change the constitution of Illinois which is probably why there hasn’t been one to limit marriage to heterosexual couples there. A referendum on changing the constitution can only be launched by the people of Illinois if it is to change a procedural matter relating to the way the state government works. All other referenda have to come through the state government and be approved by a three fifths majority before they can be put to the people.
Basically, if there are the votes in the Illinois General Assembly and if Governor Quinn is also in favour then gay marriage will happen in Illinois and there’s not much that NOM et al can do about it, just as in New York.
I have been studying this in Illinois and Southern Illinois State Democrats who ant to hold on to their seats desperately are actually opposed to civil same-sex marriage – so their is a chance that the SSM bill might fail!
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Amazing progress! Just to think to it may not be alone in the US with Rhode Island and Delaware hot on it’s heels! Down in D.C the Supreme court is rolling along towards striking down D.O.M.A. Across the pond in Europe, we’ll be celebrating in London, Paris and Edinburgh..and maybe even Luxembourg. Then fly down to Latin America and things are really hotting up in Mexico, Uruguay and Colombia! Wow, 2013′s going to be an amazing year in our struggle for civil rights!
Not that much of a surprise to those of us with friends in the state, but still excellent news. If California reinstates marriage equality and Illinois implements it will massively increase the numbers of LGBT Americans able to marry. Wonderful news all in all.
Illinois has NO EXCUSE now on delaying same sex marriage, because Democrats have a huge super-majority in both Illinois Houses and a Democrat Governor!
Why even the delay in the “lame-duck session”?
The those of you who are no familiar with the meaning of the “lame duck session” – it means that politicians have been replaced with someone else in the November US Elections (happens every 2 years for lawmakers and every 4 years for US Governors and US Presidents) and in the short 3 to 4 weeks left of the legislature they can actually introduce or pass any law they like without a mandate (for example pay rises for themselves and unpopular legislation on work unions control)!
Also the bill to repeal the unconstitutional US DADT (Don’t ask, don’t tell) policy in Congress – passed during the 2010 lame duck session!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lame_duck_(politics)
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/29/politics/btn-lame-duck-congress/index.html
Two more websites:
http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/lame_duck_session.htm
http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Lame-Duck-Session-of-Congress-Myths-and-Facts
Welcome to the 2nd anniversary of the passing of the repeal of the DADT policy in the US Congress!
There is no reason why the law shouldn’t pass. Illinois was the first state in the USA to decriminalise homosexuality fifty years ago with no other states following suit until the 1970′s. The movement towards marriage equality throughout the 50 (or 51 if you include Puerto Rico) States is beginning to snowball.
The speed of this progress is exhilarating and was unimaginable just a couple of years ago. Thank you to Obama and all enlightened politicians and lawmakers in the world who are making this happen.
Let’s just hope that someone doesn’t insist on holding a referendum then.
Does anyone know what the public opinion is in Illinois, are people generally in favour?
There is no right of people’s veto in Illinois so there couldn’t be a referendum like the ones held in Washington and Maryland this year and in Maine in 2009 to strike down the laws.
It’s also not easy to change the constitution of Illinois which is probably why there hasn’t been one to limit marriage to heterosexual couples there. A referendum on changing the constitution can only be launched by the people of Illinois if it is to change a procedural matter relating to the way the state government works. All other referenda have to come through the state government and be approved by a three fifths majority before they can be put to the people.
Basically, if there are the votes in the Illinois General Assembly and if Governor Quinn is also in favour then gay marriage will happen in Illinois and there’s not much that NOM et al can do about it, just as in New York.
Maine APPROVED of same sex marriage as well and becomes effective from December, 29, 2012!
Yes Maine REJECTED the SSM law in 2009!
I have been studying this in Illinois and Southern Illinois State Democrats who ant to hold on to their seats desperately are actually opposed to civil same-sex marriage – so their is a chance that the SSM bill might fail!
Sources:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/t/story/illinois-lawmakers-hope-gay-marriage-jan-17966718
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ill-lawmakers-within-striking-distance-of-gay-marriage-approval-hope-to-pass-bill-in-jan/2012/12/13/2351f62e-4560-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html
Another 2 good sources here too:
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-73688899/
https://www.google.com.au/webhp?hl=en#sclient=tablet-gws&hl=en&tbo=d&site=webhp&source=hp&q=Illinois+Democrats+oppose+same+sex+marriage&oq=Illinois+Democrats+oppose+same+sex+marriage&gs_l=tablet-gws.12…4457.4457.0.6092.1.1.0.0.0.0.539.539.5-1.1.0.les%3B..0.0…1ac.2.ZECpPmSf7cE&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&bvm=bv.1355325884,d.dGY&fp=9b851182162a96a2&bpcl=39967673&biw=1024&bih=594