Same-sex marriage cleared a first hurdle to becoming law in Illinois after the Senate Executive Committee passed the legislation Thursday, sending it to the full Senate. It was not clear when a vote would take place there. If the measure becomes law, Illinois would become the 10th state to approve same-sex marriage. Advocates are pushing for full gay marriage rights just 18 months after the state recognized civil unions. Many faith organizations are opposed on religious freedom grounds, arguing that the proposal would compel them to treat same-sex unions as the equivalent of traditional marriage.