The parliamentary move to withdraw the measure virtually ensures that the bill will not be considered this session, though it could be reintroduced in the fall session.

Six protestors, all from Champaign or Urbana, were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, and disorderly conduct, a petty offense punishable only by a fine that can reach $1,000.

It was an odd conclusion to what has been an emotional and politically charged issue in the General Assembly in recent years. The proposal narrowly passed the Illinois House earlier this year to make it to the Senate.

And rather than let the proposal languish without a hearing, Senate President James "Pate" Philip, a Wood Dale Republican, scheduled it for a hearing in the Senate Executive Committee.

Philip, who has been criticized by Democrats for not scheduling more hearings on proposals sponsored by Democrats, said after Wednesday's events that it smacked of hypocrisy for the proposal's sponsor, Sen. John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, to have decided not to have a vote.

"I think he strung those poor people out. They are all down here, and he decides not to call the bill [for a vote]. I don't think it is a very wise move for him," Philip said.

Cullerton said the bill's supporters had not done the work needed to get the proposal passed in the Senate, and that is why a vote was not taken. He said supporters would lobby senators in hopes of having a vote either in the fall session, or, more likely, next year.

Philip is a member of the Senate Executive Committee that was scheduled to vote on the proposal. Philip has expressed his opposition to the idea. He said the outburst from supporters didn't help their case with him.

"I don't think they did themselves very much good," Philip said afterward.

Those arrested were members of the gay and lesbian equality group the 85 Percent Coalition. They were seated in the front row of the audience and stood up, linked arms and began shouting when it was announced there would be no vote on the proposal.

"No, no, we won't go. We're your daughters, we're your sons, pass House Bill 101," they chanted as police officers from the secretary of state's office swarmed and marched them out of the committee room. House Bill 101 is the technical name for the gay equality legislation.

The unruly crowd was herded into an elevator near Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood's office and taken to a police office in the basement of the Capitol.

Other supporters of the proposal also condemned the outburst.

"There is an appropriate place for that kind of in-your-face activism. I think that is counterproductive to do that here," said state Rep. Larry McKeon, a Chicago Democrat and the only openly gay member of the General Assembly. "I would discourage that kind of activity."

© 2001 Daily Herald. All rights reserved.