Breaking: Illinois Passes Marriage Equality!

The Illinois House of Representatives passed the state's marriage equality bill today, assuring that it will become law.

The House approved the bill by a vote of 61-54, Chicago TV station WMAQ reports. The bill has already passed in the state Senate, and Gov. Pat Quinn says he will sign it. This version must receive another, procedural vote in the Senate, but that is a mere formality.

The measure will go into effect June 1. Rep. Greg Harris, its chief sponsor, had originally set it to go into effect January 1, but that would have required a supermajority with 71 votes in favor. Because of this, it must go back for the second Senate vote, but its sponsor there, Heather Steans, said she expects no problems.

This will make Illinois the 15th state with marriage equality. "This is great news for the thousands of committed same-sex couples in Illinois who will now be able to make the ultimate vow before their friends and family, protected and supported by their marriage," said Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry, which was a lead partner in the coalition Illinois Unites for Marriage. "It also represents tremendous momentum, with another victory in the heartland and our sixth state victory in 2013. "

"This is a great day for Illinois and for the rest of the country" said Rick Garcia, policy director and director of the Equal Marriage Illinois Project for the Civil Rights Agenda, an LGBT group. "Fairness, decency, and equality were affirmed by our legislature. Same-gender couples will have the same state benefits as their heterosexual counterparts."

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