SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Senate Democrats of the Illinois General Assembly have confirmed that a bill carrying legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage will not be heard this week and will likely be picked up for consideration next week.

The Senate Executive Committee will still consider the measure Thursday, despite the meeting having been delayed several hours.

The Democrats issued a statement following increasing uncertainty around a potential vote on the measure due to senators who are absent for family emergencies, and later said it will be heard next week.

[UPDATE: The Daily Herald in Illinois is reporting that Pat Brady, chair of the Illinois Republican Party, is calling GOP lawmakers today to ask them to support marriage equality in the Land of Lincoln.]

CHICAGO -- Democratic State Sen. Heather Steans said Tuesday a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois will be heard by a Senate committee Wednesday night and a full Senate vote on a bill could come as early as Thursday.

Several gay and lesbian couples who are plaintiffs in a legal challenge to a state law prohibiting the recognition of same-sex marriages met with state legislators in Springfield Wednesday and urged them to vote for a bill that would legalize gay marriage in Illinois.

The Civil Rights Agenda, a Chicago-based LGBT rights and policy advocacy group, announced Sunday the launch of a new project that will bring greater focus to advancing the rights of transgender and gender-variant communities in Illinois.

“We at The Civil Rights Agenda believe that we are at a tipping point in terms of transgender rights,” stated Anthony Martinez, executive director of TCRA. “It is our belief that we should push the rights of transgender individuals to the forefront of the LGBTQ policy agenda in Illinois.”