Great news on the equality front out of Illinois, on Valentine’s Day no less:

“It’s a new day in the state of Illinois,” proclaimed Senator Martin Sandoval before voting to legalize marriage equality for same-sex couples in the prairie state. The state Senate approved the bill 34 to 21, and after a vote at the state House, which is held by the Democrats, the state should be on its way to becoming the nation’s 10th to grant equal rights to gay couples. Governor Pat Quinn has pledged to sign the bill once it arrives on his desk.