Deb Mell

Abortion Bills OKed By Agriculture Committee

Posted 02.25.2012

Read More: Illinois Abortion Rights, Deb Mell, Abortion, Thomas Morrison, Kelly Cassidy, Joseph Lyons, Anti-Abortion Bills, Abortion Rights, Naomi Jakobsson, Illinois Anti-Abortion Bills, Illinois Abortion Laws, Illinois Abortion, Illinois Ultrasound Bill, ACLU of Illinois, Chicago News

Two contentious pieces of abortion-related legislation being pushed by pro-life lawmakers this week in Illinois sailed through the state's Agriculture...

Read Whole Story

Could Illinois Be The Next State To OK Gay Marriage?

Posted 02.08.2012

Read More: Deb Mell, Marriage Equality vs. Civil Unions, Video, Kelly Cassidy, Illinois Marriage Equality, Greg Harris, Illinois Gay Marriage, Lgbt Chicago, Illinois Civil Unions, Lgbt Illinois, Gay Marriage, Marriage Equality, Chicago News

A group of pro-equality Illinois lawmakers on Wednesday filed a bill in the Illinois General Assembly that would legalize same-sex marriage in the Lan...

Read Whole Story

WATCH: Gay Veteran Discharged Under DADT Re-enlists

Posted 12.25.2011

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Deb Mell, Video, Gay Veterans, Lee Reinhart Re-Enlists, Center on Halsted, Lee Reinhart, Greg Harris, Openly Gay Military, Chicago Impact, Mike Quigley, Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal, Chicago News

Story by Erica Demarest, courtesy of the Windy City Times: Discharged veteran Lee Reinhart made history Oct. 24 when he became the first known open...

Read Whole Story

Lesbian Rep. Goes Out Of State To Marry Longtime Partner

Posted 10.31.2011

Read More: Lgbt, Deb Mell, Christin Baker, Video, Chicago Politics, Rod Blagojevich, Lesbian, Illinois Gay Marriage, Dick Mell, Gay, Deb Mell Married, Iowa Gay Marriage, Illinois Civil Union, Chicago News

Illinois State Representative Deb Mell recently married longtime partner Christin Baker in a quiet wedding ceremony performed by a judge in Davenport,...

Read Whole Story

Will Guzzardi

Nice Cream, Tough State: Regulators Threaten Life Of Small Business

HuffingtonPost.com | Will Guzzardi | Posted 10.11.2011

Read More: Deb Mell, Kris Swanberg, Illinois Department of Public Health, Nice Cream, Ice Cream, Dairy License, Chicago, Illinois, Dairy Laws, Illinois Dairy Laws, Chicago News

In many ways, Nice Cream is the quintessential small-business success story. Laid off from her job with the Chicago Public Schools, Kris Swanberg deci...

Read Whole Story

Civil Unions in Illinois: A Step Forward

Waymon Hudson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Deb Mell, Dave Koehler, Gay Rights, Pat Quinn, Civil Unions, Greg Harris, Marriage Equality, LGBT Rights, Sheila Simon, Relationship Recognition, Gay Marriage, Same-Sex Marriage, Illinois, Chicago News
Waymon Hudson

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed civil unions into law on Monday. But while there was an air of celebration in the room, there was also a definite feeling of healthy impatience for full equality too.

Read Post

A 'Historic Step Forward': Quinn Signs Civil Unions Law

AP | TAMMY WEBBER | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Deb Mell, Pat Quinn Civil Unions, Chicago Lgbt, Civil Unions Illinois, Chicago News, Pat Quinn, Lgbt, Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Civil Unions, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Greg Harris, Illinois Civil Unions Bill, Chicago Gay Community, sb1716, Chicago News

CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn, saying it was a "day of history," signed legislation Monday legalizing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, makin...

Read Whole Story

Gov. Quinn To Sign Historic Civil Unions Law Today

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Lgbt, Chicago Gay Community, Pat Quinn Civil Unions, Pat Quinn, Gay Rights, Illinois Civil Unions Bill, Rahm Emanuel, Deb Mell, Civil Unions Illinois, Greg Harris, Chicago Lgbt, Illinois Civil Unions, Gay Marriage, sb1716, Chicago News

Bill-signing ceremonies don't generally attract large crowds, but Monday's historic signing of legislation that will allow same-sex couples to enter i...

Read Whole Story

Cardinal George, Catholic Church Fight Civil Unions

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Deb Mell, Catholic Church, Greg Harris, Chicago, Catholic Conference of Illinois, Illinois, Catholic Church Gay Rights, Civil Unions, Cardinal George, Chicago News

In the few days of Springfield legislating between the November elections and the swearing-in of a new Assembly in January, myriad interest groups are...

Read Whole Story

Rep. Deb Mell Announces Engagement On House Floor: 'Gay Or Straight, It Should Be Honored' (VIDEO)

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Deb Mell Marriage, Gay Marriage Illinois, Deb Mell, Deb Mell Engagement, Chicago, Illinois Gay Marriage, Illinois, Deb Mell Speech, Gay Marriage, Rep. Deb Mell, Video, Chicago News

State Representative Deb Mell took the floor in Springfield on Wednesday for a point of personal privilege: she wanted to announce her engagement. "T...

Read Whole Story

WATCH: Rep. Deb Mell To Announce Engagement To Lesbian Partner On House Floor

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Iowa, Richard Mell, Deb Mell Engaged, Michael Madigan, Christin Baker, Patti Blagojevich, Gay Marriage Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, Deb Mell, Illinois House, Rep. Deborah Mell, Dick Mell, Gay Marriage, Rep. Deb Mell, Video, Chicago News

As the gay marriage debate continues across the country, the gay community in Illinois has yet to see much progress on the issue--and one state repres...

Read Whole Story

Deborah Mell In Danger Of Being Kicked Off The Ballot

Crain's Chicago Business | Greg Hinz | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Deb Mell Re-Election, Richard K. Means, Joseph Laiacona, Deb Mell, Deb Mell Petitions, Deborah Mell, Chicago News

Another big piece of bad news is hitting Chicago's Mell/Blagojevich political clan....

Read Whole Story

Torn Apart By DOMA

Emma Ruby-Sachs | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Roland Burris Senate, Doma, Dick Durbin, Roland Burris, Immigration, Gay, Mike Quigley, National, Defense of Marriage Act, United American Families Act, Marriage Equality, Deb Mell, Immigration Reform, Gay Rights, Gay Issues, Gay Marriage, Immigration Debate, Immigration Policy, Uafa, Politics News
Emma Ruby-Sachs

One can only hope that quick passage of the UAFA will help people like Karla and Stacy have a fair shot at making a loving committed relationship work for the long term.

Read Post

Patti Blagojevich's Family Defend Tarnished Illinois First Lady (VIDEO)

Chicago Sun-Times | Carol Marin and Chris Fusco | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Video, Deb Mell, Rod Blagojevich, Patti Blagojevich Family, Blagojevich Family Interview, Dick Mell, Patricia Blagojevich, Blagojevich Family, Rich Mell, Deborah Mell, Patti Blagojevich, Chicago News

Lady Macbeth. Carmela Soprano. Potty mouth. Patti Blagojevich is not any of those, her family said Wednesday. "That is absolutely not my sister," De...

Read Whole Story

Blagojevich's Sister-In-Law May Cast Impeachment Vote

Chicago Sun-Times | Carol Marin | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Deb Mell, Mell Blagojevich, Deb Mell Blagojevich Vote, Rod Blagojevich, Deb Mell Blagojevich, Blagojevich Family, Deborah Mell Impeachment, Deborah Mell, Blagojevich Impeachment, Patti Blagojevich, Chicago News

On Jan. 14, Deborah Mell will be sworn in as the new state representative from the district her brother-in-law once represented. She could be called u...

Read Whole Story