EDGE Los Angeles

Although recent efforts to bring the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (IRFMFA) to a vote stalled, advances continue to be made with bipartisan and judicial support of the legislation.

If recent petitions to intervene from two churches are granted, the groups will join two downstate County Clerks in defending the 1996 Illinois law denying gay couples the right to marry.

Earlier this month, Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois took the radical step of separating itself entirely from the church allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt as well as provide provide foster-care services.

A black cloud continues to hang over Equality Illinois after it fired long-time public policy director and founding executive director Rick Garcia in December.