President Obama Pushes For Marriage Equality In Illinois

President Obama has asked the Illinois General Assembly to push for marriage equality. On Saturday, President Obama issued a statement in which he urged the General Assembly to vote on gay marriage legalization in the near future.

Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, White House spokesman Shin Inouye said:

“While the president does not weigh in on every measure being considered by state legislatures, he believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect.

“As he has said, his personal view is that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships, and want to marry, from doing so. Were the President still in the Illinois State Legislature, he would support this measure that would treat all Illinois couples equally.”

Gay marriage advocates in Illinois are hoping to push through a measure in January 201,3 and representatives for that measure believe the processing is “moving very quickly,” which could lead to immediate results. However, opponents of the bill, specifically the Coalition to Protect Children and Marriage, introduced their own bill on December 18 to preclude homosexuals from marrying in Illinois. The opposing coalition includes the Illinois Family Institute, Eagle Forum of Illinois, Abstinence and Marriage Partnership, Illinois Citizens for Life PAC, Lake County Right to Life, Concerned Christian Americans, and the Family-Pac.

Illinois already allows for civil unions, and the state is already facing two separate lawsuits over the right to wed as a gay couple.

With long-standing Democrats in charge of the governorship in Illinois and a rather liberal base, there is a strong chance that a gay marriage bill will pass if voters come out in support of the proposal.