State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) helped pass fair marriage legislation for same-sex couples out of the Illinois Senate Thursday.

“I am glad Illinois is taking this important step towards achieving equality for all citizens,” said Hunter after the 34-21 Senate vote. “I maintain that justice for everyone is always our greatest goal, and now it seems that goal is on its way to being accomplished.”

SB 10 provides marriage equality for same-sex couples in Illinois.

At the same time, the proposal protects religious institutions’ rights by clarifying that religious organizations and their facilities are under no state requirement to host or participate in same-sex marriages.

SB 10 now moves to the Illinois House for consideration.

Illinois legislators wear red to spread awareness of cardiovascular disease

State Senator Mattie Hunter, clad in a striking scarlet dress, participated in the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women demonstration at the Illinois State Capitol yesterday. All state legislators and statewide elected officials were asked by the Conference of Women Legislators (which Hunter is a proud member of) to don red as part of an annual Statehouse event to spread awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women in Illinois.

“It was disheartening, to say the least, to be reminded today of the fact that per the American Heart Association, most women are unaware that heart disease is their number one potential health threat and killer,” said Hunter. “I’m happy to be involved and do my part to spread awareness.”

Senate Majority Caucus Whip Hunter was also adamant, “As a proud black female, it is unsettling that we as a community are particularly oblivious to this issue and thus not empowered to take charge of our health. Heart disease claims the lives of more than 20,000 black women annually, but only 36 percent of African American women know that this poses their greatest health risk; and only 52 percent recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. This is an absolute shame and something we have to turn around, which is why I’m ‘going red’.”

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s platform for educating women on their risk factors of heart disease. Over the last ten years, more than 600,000 lives have been saved because of Go Red. Throughout the last ten years, Go Red For Women has funded gender-specific research studies showing women’s responses to treatments and medications and has published women-specific guidelines on treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

To learn more about Go Red For Women, visit www.goredforwomen.org.

About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.