As the campaign season drew to a close for Governor Pat Quinn, he publicly vowed to fight for civil unions –whether he was elected or not.

Now, Quinn is in for a full term, and some predict a vote to recognize civil unions among same-sex couples will happen soon.

“I think we’re awfully darned close,” Rep. Greg Harris told the Chicago Sun-Times . Every year, the openly gay Harris sponsors two bills in the House– one legalizing civil unions, and the other for gay marriage.

In an October interview with the Daily Herald, Quinn agreed.

“The votes are there, I believe.” Quinn told the paper. “In the Senate for sure, and definitely I think we can do it in the House.”

But the Sun-Times reported Wednesday that support among Illinois legislators could be wavering following last Tuesday’s retention vote in Iowa. Iowans voted not to retain three judges due to their ruling in Varnum v. Brien, the case that legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

“Civil unions, for all intents and purposes, are practically the same as same-sex marriage,” Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, told the Sun-Times. “I don’t perceive there is a mandate in Illinois on civil unions or same-sex marriage.”


Best Gay Chicago.com