Illinois AFL-CIO votes to support gay marriage

The executive board of the Illinois chapter of the AFL-CIO is supporting gay marriage.

The board voted Thursday in Chicago to urge the Illinois House to adopt the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.”

The adopted resolution states the AFL-CIO joins faith communities, civil rights organizations, President Barack Obama and its own unions in supporting “marriage equality legislation that effectively protects religious freedom.”

The legislation got Senate approval in February but never got called for a vote in the House before the Legislature adjourned in May.

Supporters, including some in the business community, say a gay marriage law would be good for business. Influential lawmakers have pointed out that other states are luring couples to come to their states to get married.