Illinois became the 12th U.S. state to grant legal recognition to same-sex couples as a new civil unions law took effect on Wednesday.
via Chicago Sun-TimesLakeesha Harris and Jeanean Watkins
The new law provides same-sex couples about 600 rights that heterosexual couples have in the state, including surrogate decision-making for medical treatment, survivorship, adoptions, and accident and health insurance.
More than 75 couples were in line by the time the doors opened early at 7:30 a.m. at the Cook County Building in downtown Chicago, where the vital records office will stay open until 7 p.m. to accommodate couples. Officials said they expect to issue about 2,000 licenses the first day.
At the head of the line were Lakeesha Harris and Janean Watkins, who got there at midnight. The Chicago couple, together for 10 years, have six children and a home but say they always felt relegated to second-class status, until now.
“We’ve been ostracized and relegated to the bottom rung of society,” said Harris, 36. “I feel like this is some sort of justice for us, for our family. I’m so grateful. I’m thankful.”
The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act passed in the Illinois General Assembly during the lame duck session following the November 2010 election. It was signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on January 31.
Ahead of the law taking effect, the Rockford, Ill., Catholic Diocese announced last week that it would discontinue adoption and foster care programs rather than be forced to serve same-sex or unmarried opposite-sex couples under the new civil unions law. Other Catholic charities in the state have threatened to take similar action.
Illinois is now the sixth state in the U.S. to offer civil unions to same-sex couples. Five states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage. Hawaii and Delaware have also passed civil union laws that have not yet taken effect.
Illinois law will continue to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Articles Related to this topic:
IL Catholic Charities drops lawsuit, will abandon child care to avoid serving LGBT parents
Equality Illinois reports: 1,600 civil unions in first month since law took effect
Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel wants Illinois to legalize same-sex marriage
Two more Catholic Charities in IL drop adoption, foster care over civil unions
Rockford Catholic diocese to end adoption programs over same-sex civil unions
Illinois governor signs bill legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples
Illinois General Assembly passes LGBT-inclusive civil union bill
Filed under: Illinois
Yay! Now, which state will follow suit?
Not which state, the country should follow suit.
good for you, Il. :) :) :)
yay.
I’m glad about it but legal recognition for civil unions IS NOT Equality.
It may not be marriage but it’s sure a big step…. I love my states <3
hell yah!!!!!! i love illinois!!!!! <3 <3 so happy to be a chicago tgirl
Go Illinois – not as good as marriage, but it is a step in the right direction….
Yes…now we need az to follow…lol
It’s about time! NEXT??
I’m proud to have lived here for most of my life until recently.
California california california?!
Yay! Not too far away for us in wisconsin!
I actually teared up
come on Okc damn it!
wow – didn’t realize there were 12 states already, thought only around 6.
can’t find the list of the other 11 states online. anybody know them?
38 more to go! that won’t happen til the SUPREME Court says it’s so!
Each and every state that grants us basic civil rights adds to the weight of history.
History is weighted toward equality.
It’s just that a single lifetime is not long enough, sometimes, to see how the scale balances that way.