Illinois is about to become the 15th U.S. state to allow gay marriage.
The state House of Representatives narrowly passed the bill legalizing same sex weddings Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate where its president said it's expected to pass. Governor Pat Quinn says he will sign it.
There was strong debate by both supporters and opponents in the House, with the opposition stressing that traditional marriage has always been between a man and a woman. Backers of gay marriage said they have no right to judge others and that the state's current civil union law promotes equality.
So far 14 states and Washington, D.C. recognize same sex marriage. The Supreme Court struck down a federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman earlier this year.
The state House of Representatives narrowly passed the bill legalizing same sex weddings Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate where its president said it's expected to pass. Governor Pat Quinn says he will sign it.
There was strong debate by both supporters and opponents in the House, with the opposition stressing that traditional marriage has always been between a man and a woman. Backers of gay marriage said they have no right to judge others and that the state's current civil union law promotes equality.
So far 14 states and Washington, D.C. recognize same sex marriage. The Supreme Court struck down a federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman earlier this year.