The Illinois House of Representatives finally took up marriage equality today and passed the bill 61-54. One amendment was approved first, which includes exemptions for private clubs that are already provided under the Illinois Human Rights Act. As a result, the Senate will have to approve the bill one final time, which they are prepared to do before the evening is over. The law will then take effect June 1, 2014,. Illinois will be the 15th state to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.