Will Illinois be next?
Illinois state Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago proposed a measure Thursday to make his state the second in the U.S. to recognize same-gender marriage.
Not civil union. Full civil marriage.
Openly-gay himself, Harris recognized from the start that it is an uphill battle to pass the bill, but he said he felt Illinois’ progressive track record in the Midwest poises it well for passing:
Illinois is a heartland state but has always been a leader in civil rights and social justice issues.
I’d almost buy that, if it wasn’t less than two years ago when the state finally passed a civil rights law protecting GLBT individuals from discrimination and hate crimes. I’d almost buy that if, rather than placing a moratorium on capital punishment, the state had banned the measure entirely.
Illinois doesn’t have a leadership track record, it has a record of maintaining the status quo. (Vote early and vote often comments aside.) The focus is on the state for now, as we wait to see how Obama does in the presidential race. Riding on the legacy of Lincoln has worn out. It’s time for some actual leadership to emerge. Is this Illinois’ time to shine?