Liberal Values Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought

While we are waiting to see if there are any results of significance in today’s off-off-year elections, there has been one important development in the Illinois legislature. The General Assembly approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage by 61 votes, one more than the minimum to pass. This will make Illinois the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage. The law takes effect June 1, 2014. Barack Obama had this response:

“As president, I have always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally under the law. Over time, I also came to believe that same-sex couples should be able to get married like anyone else,” he said in the statement. “So tonight, Michelle and I are overjoyed for all the committed couples in Illinois whose love will now be as legal as ours – and for their friends and family who have long wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and equally under the law.”

Meanwhile Republicans and conservative religious leaders are complaining about this infringement upon their right to impose their religious views upon others.