By Mary Wisniewski
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives passed same-sex marriage bill on Tuesday, paving the way for President Barack Obama's home state to become the 15th to allow same-sex unions.
The state Senate approved gay marriage on Valentine's Day in February, but it has never been brought to a vote in the House, even though Democrats have a strong majority. The bill will return to the Senate this afternoon for final approval before it goes to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who has pledged his support.
The 61-54 vote, one vote more than required, met with applause on the floor of the General Assembly in Springfield.
The proposal was resisted by some African-American Democratic lawmakers who are under pressure from outspoken black Protestant churches to oppose it. The leadership of the Catholic Church in Illinois also has staunchly opposed the proposal.
"I am voting for marriage equality today because it is the right thing to do," Democratic lawmaker Jehan Gordon-Booth, who is African-American, said during the debate. "I know enhancing the civil rights of others does not diminish the civil rights of anyone in this room or anyone in this state."
(Additional reporting by Karen Pierog in Chicago.; Writing by Greg McCune.; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Andre Grenon)
Politics & GovernmentGovernmentPresident Barack Obamagay marriagehttp://news.yahoo.com/illinois-lawmakers-begin-debate-legalizing-same-sex-marriage-221448138.html
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