Ouch. That close call in Illinois sure was was rough. Although the deadline to pass a marriage equality bill came and went without a vote, it would appear that we were just a few legislators short of passage. This is the closest the state has ever come to achieving marriage equality, and it definitely hurts that we weren't able to make it all the way.
But the fight's still not over: The same bill could still pass in a special session this November. And meanwhile, public opinion continues to swing in favor of equality. Polling from Illinois shows that opposition is dropping rapidly; and new national polls show the same.
Meanwhile, progress continues in other states. Michigan lawmakers introduced four separate marriage equality bills last week. Between now and autumn, those bills are likely to be subjects of intense lobbying.
So far, we've picked up three new states with marriage equality this year. And with some hard work and determination, we can pick up a few more.
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