<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><br>The Illinois Senate Executive Committee is expected to approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Illinois tonight and a vote in the full Senate could come as early as tomorrow if all the Senators make it back to Springfield, followed by a vote in the House next week.  Both votes will be very close.<br><br>The ACLU of Illinois has set up this response form that will automatically send a customized email to your legislators, determined from your address:<br>https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/il/issues/alert/?alertid=62193026<br><br>Jakobsson and Frerichs are supportive, but many parts of Champaign and outside C-U are in other districts.  Notes to supportive legislators thanking them for their support are certainly appropriate as well.<br><br>I will copy below the alert sent by ACLU-IL yesterday, in case you aren't on that email list.<br><br>Bill
 Brown<br>Champaign County ACLU<br>info@aclu-cu.org<br><hr><br><!--[if !mso]>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Dear Supporter, <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Over the weekend, President Obama
made it clear: if he were still a member of the Illinois General Assembly, he
would vote for a measure that grants the freedom to marry to same-sex couples
in Illinois. Legislators should listen to the President.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The time is now. In the next few
days, the Illinois General Assembly is set to consider a bill that recognizes
the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Illinois. With your help, Illinois
can join nine other states, including Washington, Maine and Maryland, in
realizing the freedom to marry for everyone. It is, quite simply, our turn. <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><a href="https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/il/issues/alert/?alertid=62193026"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><a target="_blank"><b><span style="color:blue">Tell your state legislators to
support the freedom to marry in Illinois</span></b></a>.</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Legislators are working tirelessly
to approve the freedom to marry during the legislative "veto
session". This makes sense - a growing majority of Illinoisans support
ending Illinois' denial of marriage to same-sex couples. This majority deserves
a state policy that reflects their values, values of fairness and dignity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Join the ACLU as we fight for this
historic legislation, bringing the freedom to marry to everyone in Illinois. <a href="https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/il/issues/alert/?alertid=62193026" target="_blank"><b><span style="color:blue">Tell Springfield: It's time for
marriage in Illinois</span></b></a>. <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Sincerely,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br></span></p>Mary Dixon<br>Legislative Director<br>ACLU of Illinois<br></td></tr></table>