The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus practically united behind SB1716, the landmark civil unions legislation that passed the Senate today and passed the House on Tuesday. Of the 27 Black legislators in Springfield, there were only two "no" votes—and one belonged to State Sen. and Rev. James Meeks, the Chicago mayoral candidate and outspoken anti-gay mega-church pastor.
The members of the Illinois House Legislative Black Caucus is HERE. The 61-52 vote tally is HERE. Rockford Democrat Chuck Jefferson voted NO. Reps. Deborah Graham and Eddie Washington did not vote.
In today's Senate vote, Meeks was the only one of the Senate's 8 Black members to vote NO. All others voted YES.
Meeks, who has called homosexuality "an evil sickness", opposed Illinois' LGBT non-discrimination legislation and was the only African-American in the Illinois Senate and House to vote against the bill.
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Posted by: original coach outlet | 03 December 2010 at 00:30