A selection of the best statements made during the Valentine's Day debate on legalizing same-sex marriage.
"I just watched [the movie] 'Lincoln' and for the love of God, I feel like I'm sitting in 1865, where similar debates were created of why slavery should continue in this country."—Sen. William Delgado (D), before voting "yes."
"Seeing as I'm not going to be back tonight with my sweetheart, we went out [for Valentine's Day] early. We went to a place that we like going to owned by [pause] a gay couple. [Laughter from the Senate floor] I don't understand the response. These are friends of mine." —Sen. Kyle McCarter (R), before voting "no."
"The sky is not falling, Chicken Little. I urge you."—Sen. Kwame Raoul (D), before voting "yes."
"I have served here for six years, and I have not seen a single bill to do away with divorce in the state. That's something that is very dangerous towards traditional marriage," Sen. Michael Frerichs (D), before voting "yes."
"Businesses will be affected. Bed and breakfasts, florists, all those that are wedding related will be affected. They will choose to, most of them, dissolve their businesses. That's what's happened in other states."—Sen. Kyle McCarter (R), before voting "no."
"Along with these religious protections, I believe that the people of Illinois want our government to give individuals freedom with their life decisions. We want fairness under the law."—Sen. Jason Barickman (R), before voting, "yes."
"We've knocked down some walls in this country. You know, there was a time when for accounting purposes, I would only be considered three fifths of a man, but we knocked down that wall."—Sen. Kwame Raoul (D), before voting "yes."
"From old Testament to new, there is nothing that supports same-sex marriage."—Sen. Tim Bivins (D), before voting "no."
"Today, I vote for my family. Today, I vote for hopefully being able to embrace more adopted children into my loving family. Today, I vote for all, for all human beings out there regardless of who they are, where they come from and what religious belief they believe in. I am very proud of my family. And today is a historic day for me because I won't have to go Canada or somewhere else to have a wedding when I can do this right here in my own state with my family."—Sen. Iris Martinez, before voting "yes" (Martinez was referring to LGBTQ relatives, not her own wedding).
See first day coverage, Gay marriage bill passes Senate, here:
www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Gay-marriage-bill-passes-Senate/41572.html .
