Emanuel hopes Illinois will follow New York in same-sex marriage legislation
(CNN)- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel showed his support for the recently passed New York same-sex marriage law telling CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview Wednesday he would support similar legislation in Illinois.
"I would hope that the state would move in that direction" Emanuel said. "Tremendous progress has been made across the country on a value statement and I think that's very important."
In New York, Gov. Cuomo signed the same-sex marriage measure after it passed a Republican-controlled Senate Friday night. The law will grant same-sex couples the right of inheritance, employer health benefits and state tax benefits.
As a mayoral candidate and mayor-elect, Emanuel advocated for civil union legislation in Illinois, which went into effect in early June. The law gives more limited but similar protections to same-sex married couples, including health care benefits.
"Within the first 30 days, I see a union between my senior advisor, he and his partner," Emanuel said. "Later that day, the governor and I went to a ceremony in Millennium Park where 30 couples, another member of my cabinet was getting married to her partner. They were getting joined in a civil union."
President Obama chose to stay mum about New York's same-sex legislation during Wednesday's press conference, but Emanuel, Obama's former White House Chief of Staff made sure to applaud similar steps the administration has taken.
"We know we have a hate crimes legislation nationally that was passed and signed by President Obama, that he repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Emanuel said, "We finally have a law that's in line with our values."
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I hope it happens. Illinois could be a true leader in the area of marriage equality for other states in the Midwest, and even backward South. Marriage between two individauls is a civil right. There are too many states (manily Southern) which pander to the narrow-minded, backward consituant. All one has to do is look back at the Civil Rights movement and legalizing mixed marriages in the 60s to see states like Illinois in the forefront of justice and equality.
drip.. drip.. drip... drip.. keep lowering the bar....drip .. drip.. drip.. decay from with in...drip ...drip..
While Obama has taken baby steps toward equality, he has been receiving far too much credit. While Obama lead the way in repealing DADT, our gay and lesbian service member are still being discharged under DADT. While DADT was "repealed" it is still in effect. Furthermore, Obama has stopped defending DOMA, but what does that actually mean? Nothing! Obama needs to stop his political posturing and actually do something. He needs to follow the brave example of Cuomo and make a stand for equality.
Is this debate about the word "marriage " or getting spousal rights for gay couples because if it's about spousal rights Illinois,Nevada,Califormia and Hawaii have spousal rights for gay married couples just like New York so why are we wasting time on a word instead of passing a bill/law that gives equal spousal rights to couples in civil union,common law,dometic partnerships(another word for marriage). I think Obama feel the same way about this petty "marriage" word debate going on in America but he's afraid to say it. Obama doesn't care what you call it ciivil union or marriage just give equal spousal rights to gay couples. Gosh !!!!!!!!!
So Chicago, what is more important: gay marriage or jobs? What has this Chicago thug done to produce jobs? Instead, he promotes gay marriage. The Chicago infection has spoiled Springfield and I say time to split Chicagoland from the rest of the state and free us from its cancer.