As the town prepares for thousands of visitors for Rod Blagojevich’s inauguration this weekend, a Springfield, Ill., City Council committee Monday night approved a gay-rights bill. Equality Illinois Political Director Rick Garcia, calling from Springfield, said the next hurdle was expected to be the full Council meeting Tuesday night, after WCT went to press. Garcia said the four who testified in favor of the bill were ‘brilliant,’ and the four against used the same ‘tired old arguments.’ The voice vote then appeared to be enough to pass the bill to the full Council.
‘This community did an excellent job—there is an excellent, vibrant community in Central Illinois,’ Garcia said.