Illinois Gay Rights Bill Sidelined Until January

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/11/111904illRts.htm

Legislation that would amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations and credit was pulled Thursday, shortly before the state Senate was to have voted on it.

Following an often acrimonious hour long debate, mostly along religious and moral grounds that saw the defeat of legislation dealing with embryonic stem-cell research, the sponsor of the gay-rights bill, Sen. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago took the measure off the floor.

At the beginning of Thursday's session Ronen believed she had the 30 votes needed for passage, but by the end of the stem-cell fight that number was in question.

[David__77]

1. Now's the time for a modest measure, at the least.

This is barebones. I can't see the problem. Let the Demos in right-leaning districts abstain.

[chiburb]

2. Keep in mind that this was a "veto session"...

When they reconvene next year it'll come up again. Not saying it'll pass though... this really is a Red state outside of Chicago.