Illinois Politicians support Gay Equality.

Illinois, best known for the corruption in their government -- now has not one but two very visual and vocal fighters for equality for the LGBT community in their government.

The first one is Alexi Giannoulias. And in the interests of fairness, let me first say, that I think Alexi is hot!!!! But now it turns out he's smart, he open and accepting, and he's gay friendly!! Well that makes him perfect in my book. . . .

Alexi, who is a candidate for the Illinois Senate has come out a week or so ago in favor of legalization for same-sex marriage and, if elected, would seek to repeal a federal law that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. I didn't hear him mince any words. His speech was very plain spoken and to the point. And, yes, still hot.

Alexi also believes that individual states should be able to decide for themselves whether they allow same-sex couples to marry, but that all states should be required to afford legal recognition to same-sex marriages performed in states where they are sanctioned. He would require the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages, now prohibited by the Defense of Marriage Act, something he wants repealed. He says this would have the effect, in part, of allowing gay and lesbian couples to file joint federal income tax returns and receive Social Security survivor benefits.

To top it off, he wants to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

"This goes to what this country was founded on -- equality and fairness," said Alexi Giannoulias, emphasizing that he sees same-sex marriage as a constitutional and legal issue in the context of past civil rights struggles.

I say, Go on with your hot, bad self Alexi!

And not only me but many other gay activists in Illinois believe that Giannoulias, currently the state treasurer, is the first major candidate in a statewide race to stake out a position in favor of gay marriage.

Alexi Giannoulias: "This is what I believe in, and I'm sure not everyone is going to agree with me....I'd like to think the public is more accepting of gay and lesbian couples in committed relationships. It could be risky, but it's what I believe....While marriage as a religious institution should be governed by people's faith and the tenets of their religion, marriage as a civil institution should be governed by principles of fairness. Civil marriage should be equal for all people and provide the same protections under the law, with all legal rights and responsibilities. They're equal rights."

Alexi also believes people will look back on the marriage equality debate 10 or 15 years from now and "be amazed we didn't do this sooner."

In an Alexi Giannoulias world, and wouldn't it be a hot hot world.....okay, I'll stop.....a same-sex couple from Illinois who get married in Iowa, where gay marriage became legal earlier this year, would have the same rights here as a married heterosexual couple. Those rights like: inheritance rights, hospital visitation rights, equal pension and health care benefits and all other legal protections granted married couples.

"I don't think we're asking for special rights," Giannoulias said. "They're equal rights."

Alexi Giannoulias, I think I love you.

Okay, now for the second Politician from Illinois. This man isn’t as hot as Alexi Giannoulias, but hey who is. Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley released a statement earlier this week speaking out in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act of 2009. That's the new legislation introduced by Jerrold Nadler that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Mike Quigley: “Today, in supporting this Act, I am an arch conservative. Why is that? Because when you think about it, what have the conservatives said for all time about government’s role? That government’s role is to stay out of people’s personal lives.

This will allow people privacy and the right to make decisions that are most important to them. But most of all, it is about respect for what they decide to do with their own lives as long as they’re not hurting anyone else. So what, I would ask, is a more intimate, more important, more critical decision, a more sacred decision than who we love—and how we express that love?”...

Through DOMA, which was signed into law 13 years ago, on September 21, 1996, the federal government can single out legally married same-sex couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law, selectively denying them more than 1,100 federal protections and responsibilities – including Social Security and immigration benefits – that otherwise apply to married couples.

This policy is discriminatory and harmful to families, preventing the government from honoring its legal commitments and the needs of families, even though these couples have assumed the obligations of civil marriage under state law and contribute as citizens and taxpayers.

So who would of guessed, that with the bad image past Governors and other Politicians had given Illinois -- that two great men would stand up and put a new light on Illinois. Placing Illinois right in the foreground of a great movement that is taking this country one state at a time.

MJ