Victory

Illinois House Passes Gay Rights Bill

The story has gone national. The voting is done. Unless Rod pulls a fast one on all of us--not likely, considering his sister-in-law, Deborah Mell, is a lesbian and has lobbied hard for this bill--Illinois has just become the 15th state in the nation to outlaw discrimination in the workplace and in housing on the basis of sexual orientation.
[UPDATE: Blagojevich says he'll sign, and calls this "a landmark day for Illinois." Indeed.]

My thanks to all of you who e-mailed or called your legislators to help this bill pass. I've been waiting five years to see it happen; many have waited a lot longer. I feel a little bit more like a full citizen this afternoon.