The Illinois House Executive Committee on Tuesday approved lifting the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

The measure now goes to the House floor. If approved there, it would go to Gov. Pat Quinn.

The vote was 6-5 in favor of the bill. The metro-east's sole representative on the committee is Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson, D-East St. Louis, who voted against the measure.

Supporters of the bill who testified included a homosexual couple and some Chicago religious leaders. But there also were religious leaders who testified in opposition to gay marriage.

The bill received Senate approval on Valentine's Day with Democratic support and a lone Republican vote.

The bill is SB10.