Recently, due to the inaction of the Illinois House of Representatives on this issue, the dream marriage of Robert Smith and Steven Rynes being held in the Land of Lincoln wasn't meant to be, as Rynes died on September 10th, 2013.
Illinois Unites For Marriage on Rynes' death:
Steven Rynes and Robert Smith dreamed of marrying one day in Illinois, their home state, but because the state’s General Assembly has continued to stall on a bill that would legalize marriage equality, that dream was cut short last week.Steven Rynes' death should be a wake-up call to get marriage equality passed in Illinois when the veto session starts.
After battling Stage 3 melanoma for several months, Rynes died Sept. 10 at a Chicago hospital. He was 32.Following Rynes’ death, the Illinois Unites for Marriage coalition produced a video recounting the couples’ story in hopes of raising additional awareness around the issue of marriage equality and persuading those who may be on the fence when it comes to supporting their effort to make it law.
“Marriage can’t wait,” the video declares.
In January, the couple joined together in a civil union — the highest legal recognition afforded to same-sex couples under Illinois law — because Rynes’ ailing health prevented them from crossing the border into Iowa, where marriage equality is legal.
The current projected roll call on IL SB10 in the House, as of 09.18.2013 via Kate Sosin at Windy City Times: 52 Y-50 N-16 Undecided.
The 16 undecideds:
Target List- 161. Silvana Tabares (D-21st)
2. Thaddeus Jones (D-29th)
3. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-33rd)
4. Fred Crespo (D-44th)
5. Kay Hatcher (R-50th)
6. Rita Mayfield (D-60th)
7. Anthony DeLuca (D-80th)
8. John Anthony (R-75th)
9. Sue Scherer (D-96th)
10. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100th)
11. Mary Flowers (D-31st)
12. Luis Arroyo (D-3rd)
13.John D'Amico (D-15th)
14. Dennis Reboletti (R-45th)
15. Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. (D-114th)
16. Michael McAuliffe (R-20th)