Chicago Suburban Mayors Back Gay Marriage Legislation

GENEVA, Ill. - Seven mayors from the Chicago suburbs are signing on in support of same-sex marriage legislation.

The group of largely nonpartisan officials from Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, and Kendall counties are releasing a letter Tuesday through gay marriage advocacy group Illinois Unites for Marriage. They say same-sex couples and their families are suffering because they are denied full protections under Illinois law.

Same-sex marriage legislation passed the state Senate in February but has not been called for a vote in the House.

Activists are targeting moderate suburban Republicans as well as socially conservative members of the largely Democratic House Black Caucus to get the 60 votes needed.

Illinois allowed civil unions in 2011. There are now 14 states, plus Washington D.C., that allow gay marriage.