Illinois Expected to Approve Civil Unions

Actually, I just took the time to read the wording of this document. As written, it's NOT a bad law. I quote: A party to civil union is entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits as are afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses, whether they derive from statute, administrative rule, policy, or any other source of civil or criminal law. Endquote. The prohibitions are standard, i.e., 18 years old, not still legally married or in a civil union elsewhere, not your brother, sister, aunt, cousin, etc. I think one of the best parts as it is written is that any religious organization, Native Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose whether or not to solemnize or officiate a civil union. That means the religious right can't bi&$ that we forced "our relationships" down their throats! If you live in Illinois, I strongly urge to contact your state representative in Springfield and encourage them to vote YES!!!!

Thrilled! Absolutely thrilled!

I understand that we deserve full equailty, but some of you are sounding so ungrateful for at least SOMETHING! Come to Idaho, where you truely are second-class, and treated as subhuman or diseased. No protection in hate crimes, housing, employment, public accomodations (Our human rights act amendment was killed 3 consecutive years in committee), no marriage or anything close to it, discriminated against in almost every aspect of life. Hell, if we had civil unions or ANYTHING close here, I'd be a happy camper. It would show that not all of my legislators are ignoring me to death. Be grateful for having at least something. Get civil unions to show that we are normal people, then work towards marriage equality, it would be less strenuous then, people would see that we are equal. No one understands what the word patience means nowadays. We have to work for our equality, sadly, because we were lied to about being equal apparently.

So another state legislates that we are second-class citizens with second-class rights. Why aren't straight people in IL relegated to only civil union? Do they pay different state taxes than we do? Why aren't the churches that fight against same sex civil marriage equality being sued for going against the rules of their tax exempt status? Why aren't African Americans (who once couldn't legally marry Caucasians--that means your parents Obama) not standing with us in street riots demanding our equal civil rights? This will only make it more difficult in IL and in other states to ever achieve same sex civil marriage equality. I urge all citizens of IL to say no to civil union and yes to full civil marriage equality.

To read the full text of the bill, go to the Illinois General Assembly site at ilga dot gov. Click "Bills & Resolutions." It's house bill 2234. If you live in Illinois and want to send a message to your legislator, go to civilunionsillinois dot org. It's not a sure thing until it's signed by the governor! Of the five US states that currently recognize marriage equality, three (CT, VT, ME) started with civil unions or domestic partnerships. MA and IA skipped that step because they had language in their constitutions that allowed them to sue for their rights, but Illinois doesn't have the right kind of language for that. Greg Harris, the author of this bill, always introduces a marriage equality bill before the civil unions one, but it has never had enough votes even to get out of committee, let alone to pass. Civil unions are a good first step and a stopgap measure for those who can't afford to wait for the perfect solution.

Hal, under the version of the bill I saw (which I don't think has changed) you will automatically be recognized as joined in a civil union if you've married someplace that allows marriage equality.

If the law passes, and there is no effective date, then what is the plan for implementation? Would civil union certificates be drawn up and distributed to counties in the course of a month? Is there any plan in the legislation?

Speaking as another resident of Illinois, David, your remarks are ignorant and race-baiting. The fact of the matter is that Harris and Garcia believe the legislation has the votes to pass. I have read or heard nothing in the local news to the effect that there is substantial and/or organized African-American opposition to the measure.

Illinois hasn't legalized same-sex marriage not because the black population opposes it; rather, because most Illinoisians, in general, oppose it, as they do in most states. It may not be 2012 or 2013 until the numbers catch up to a point where same-sex marriage can be accepted in the state. Black Democratic leaders, in general, have been supportive of gay rights, very much so in Illinois.

For those in New York, Maine and Great Britain, etc. who seem to think that we shouldn't have settle for anything unless we got full marriage, bite me. I'm not going to sacrifice the right to visit my partner in the hospital, let him make decisions regarding my health care or let my family overturn my will in probate because some out-of-state jack-ass thinks it isn't good enough. Right now, we have NO legal protections, so I'll take every scrap I can get. We won't stop fighting until we have full federally recognized marriage, but in the meantime... My big question at this point is how this will work with those of us who are married under other jurisdictions (Canada, in our case).