Obama praises passage of gay marriage in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – President Barack Obama is praising the passage of same-sex marriage legislation in his home state of Illinois.

Obama, who served in the Illinois state Senate, released a statement saying he was “overjoyed for all the committed couples in Illinois.”

The president is commending members of the Legislature for approaching the issue in an “open and fair way.” He says the nation’s journey is not complete until gay men and women are treated equally under the law.

Same-sex marriage legislation passed the state House on Tuesday, nearly nine months the Senate approved it. The vote comes on the heels of the U.S. Senate’s advancement of a workplace anti-discrimination bill for gay, lesbian and transgender workers.

Illinois is the 15th state to allow gay marriage.