SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A Republican leader in the Illinois House said Monday that his support for legalizing gay marriage in the state could persuade colleagues to join him on an issue he says has “tremendous momentum,” while the Governor told reporters he’s confident same-sex marriage will soon become law in Illinois.

Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. of Mundelein said his position is influenced by his mother-in-law, who has been in a lesbian relationship for about 20 years.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On Valentine’s Day, the Illinois Senate voted 34-21 to approve same-sex marriage. Two did not vote.

The bill now goes to the state House of Representatives, where anti-marriage forces are hoping to defeat the measure. Democrats control the House 60% to 40%.

Gov. Pat Quinn has been pushing hard for marriage equality for all Illinois residents. The state already offers civil unions.

"Marriage equality is coming to Illinois," Quinn vowed in his State of the State address last week.

(Editor's note: The Illinois Senate plans to vote on a gay-marriage bill on Valentine's Day.)

CHICAGO -- The Circuit Court of Cook County Chancery Division today denied a motion to stay the cases brought by Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois seeking marriage for same-sex couples.

The motion, brought by The Thomas More Society, attempted to delay any action in the case pending decisions in two federal marriage cases up for review in the United States Supreme Court, United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The chief sponsors of legislation in that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois plan to reintroduce the bill today shortly after the start of the 98th General Assembly, according to one of its chief sponsors.

Sen. Heather Steans, a Chicago Democrat and the bill’s chief sponsor in the Senate, said Tuesday the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, will be simultaneously introduced in both the House and the Senate shortly after newly-elected lawmakers are sworn in to the legislature.