NEWS | The Illinois House just approved concealed gun carry legislation, and has now turned its attention to other funding bills, further delaying an expected vote on same-sex marriage legislation. Today is the last scheduled day of the General Assembly’s spring legislative session.

Earlier, groups on both sides of the issue rallied in the Capitol’s rotunda. The Illinois Family Institute called on supporters of traditional marriage to meet this morning to pray together. Danny Holliday, pastor of Victory Baptist in Alton, introduced his prayer by reading part of the Declaration of Independence

Proponents of same-sex marriage also held a rally in the Capitol rotunda, singing “This Land is Your Land” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” Singers changed the words to the familiar chorus, heralding a Jesus who “does not discriminate.” A number of same-sex marriage supporters then packed the House gallery in anticipation of a vote.

Legislators have already had a long last day of session; the House began this morning at 9:30 and have continued debate and discussion since then, with a short afternoon rescues for committee meetings. The Senate also is still in session.

Pastor Danny Holliday prays at a pro-traditional marriage rally in the Illinois Capitol rotunda.

NEWS | A group of 30-40 supporters of traditional marriage gathered in the Capitol’s rotunda moments ago to pray for today’s presumed same-sex marriage vote. The Illinois Family Institute organized the rally late yesterday, in response to no action from legislators on same-sex marriage during yesterday’s session.

Pastor Danny Holliday of Victory Baptist Church in Alton led the group in prayer. Holliday has been a vocal opponent of the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” (which would legalize same-sex marriage in the state) since the Senate took up the issue earlier this spring.

Proponents of same-sex marriage plan to rally in the rotunda at 11 a.m. today.

NEWS | The Illinois Baptist staff is at the Capitol today to cover an expected vote in the House on legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage. Session is scheduled to begin at 9:30.

Meanwhile, people on both sides of the issue are scheduled to rally in the Capitol’s rotunda this morning. Check back here or at Facebook.com/IllinoisBaptist for updates throughout the day.

COMMENTARY | Lisa Sergent

Legalization of same-sex marriage in Illinois has become a “wait and see” situation for people on both sides of the issue. What appeared to be speedy passage through General Assembly has stalled, as proponents of the legislation try to muster enough votes to get final approval in the State House. Whatever the outcome in a battle over this particular bill, it is important to note that changing the traditional definition of marriage in Illinois has not been swift, easy or unanimous.

Watching the February 14 passage of bill from the Senate gallery, where supporters of same-sex marriage outnumbered defenders of traditional marriage, it seemed likely that the House would pass the measure as quickly as the Senate had. But in the weeks and months since, objection from the grassroots has grown up and grown strong.

Southern Baptists, evangelical Christians, and Catholics have been especially vocal. Pastors and denominational leaders led the opposition to the same-sex marriage bill SB 10, officially titled the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” by its authors. Rep. Greg Harris, the main sponsor of the bill and the Illinois House’s first openly homosexual member, has stated he will not call the bill for a vote until he is certain he has the 60 votes needed for it to pass.

The House Executive Committee sent the bill to the House floor in March, but with the May 31 end of session deadline quickly approaching, there has still been no vote.

If proponents of the legislation were counting on public opinion to give it a final push through the House, they are likely disappointed by the effects of by protests by Christians. Some polls have shown public opinion shifting nationally, and in Illinois recent surveys show an even divide in public support for gay marriage. But conservative voices also are being heard, and conservative legislators are finding strong backing in their defense of traditional marriage.

Lawmakers who are holding out for “one-man/one-woman” are being subjected to strong lobbying from the other side, including automated phone calls and personal visits. Meantime, demonstrations for traditional marriage continue on the Capitol steps and in the public square, such as Chicago’s Logan Square and in downtown Alton.

And it continues to be a waiting game, as supporters of traditional marriage hope to hold off a vote on SB 10 until the 98^th General Assembly ends. Round one ends next week, but with a procedural move, a second round could continue until January 2015.

Unless there is House action today or tomorrow, the question becomes, Will supporters of traditional marriage remain fervent in their efforts?

Lisa Sergent is communications director for the Illinois Baptist State Association.

Push for final action on marriage bill rumored this week in Springfield

NEWS | Lisa Sergent

With the Illinois General Assembly’s session set to close on Friday, there is renewed effort to get representatives to vote on the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state by week’s end.

As the deadline approaches, supporters of SB 10, the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” are working the phone banks to urge the bill’s passage. The recent passage of same-sex marriage bills in Delaware, Minnesota and Rhode Island has also caused supporters in Illinois to increase pressure on state representatives. At the same time, Christians taking a stand for traditional marriage are urging prayer to stop the vote.

Meanwhile, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), told the Windy City Times he will “absolutely” call the bill to a vote before session ends May 31 and that it will pass. “When I put it up on the board, it’s going up to win,” he said.

There is some indication the lobbying may be working. On May 21, the Chicago Sun-Times published an article regarding how members of the 20-member Illinois House Black Caucus in the plan to vote on SB10. The paper tallied four yes votes, five no’s, five who are leaning toward yes, and seven undecided. However, La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), who was leaning toward yes, announced Monday he would vote yes on the bill.

Sun-Times Springfield bureau chief Dave McKinney tweeted Tuesday, “Rep. Greg Harris says he will call SB 10 for a vote by Friday, won’t indicate if Rep. La Shawn Ford’s prediction of 64 House votes is true.”

Previously, Rep. Harris has stated he would not call the bill to a vote on the House floor unless he was sure he had the 60 votes needed for it to pass.

The Chicago Tribune is calling on House members to “get it done.” An editorial published Wednesday said, “We won’t pretend this is an easy vote for everyone. But its time has come.”

Meanwhile, defenders of the traditional definition of marriage have pointed to the slowness in bringing the bill for a final vote as evidence that Illinois is more conservative than the 12 states that have already passed same-sex marriage laws. And they have continued a grassroots campaign to keep Illinois lawmakers from changing the law here. In an e-mail Wednesday, Bob Vanden Bosch, executive director of Concerned Christian Ministries, stated, “We believe that if they had the votes, they would have called it for a vote already.” He then asked supporters of traditional marriage to contact their legislators and urge them to vote no on SB 10.

If passed, same-sex marriages would begin 30 days after being signed into law. Gov. Pat Quinn has urged passage of the legislation and said he is ready to sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches his desk.

Lisa Sergent is communications director for the Illinois Baptist State Association.