SPRINGFIELD - Short the needed votes to make Illinois the 13th state with gay marriage, Friday night State Rep. Gregg Harris (D-Chicago) told those on the House floor and in the galleries that he was not calling the gay marriage bill for a vote.
Those defending traditional marriage put together an ad hoc coalition of minorities, evangelical Christians, Catholic faithful and conservative Republicans that pressured their lawmakers to oppose the measure. Ultimately, the vote came down to a few members of the Black Democrat caucus, who voted this afternoon 12 to 8 to urge the vote not be taken.
Rep. Harris' remarks:
