Civil Union Bill Loses Momentum

A proposal to allow civil unions in Illinois between same-sex couples has been stalled in the state legislature and seems likely to stay that way, as gay rights activists Wednesday plan nationwide "Day Without a Gay" rallies to protest California's Proposition 8 and other measures opposing gay marriage.

"This is going to be focusing on the economic aspect of what the deprivation of equal marriage rights means to our community," said Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network in Chicago, which is planning a rally 11 a.m. Wednesday outside the Cook County clerk's office.

The demonstration to highlight pensions and survivors' benefits in Chicago occurs as the future of the Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Unions Act grows uncertain.

First proposed in 2007 and running out of time before the current legislature expires, the bill would grant same-sex couples many of the rights given to opposite-sex married couples. There are two remaining legislative days on lawmakers' calendar in January--but its sponsor said it would take a back seat to the state's ongoing budget crisis.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[KarlaElisa]

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[StevenKeirstead]

It took several years for Maine to get a same sex civil partnerships law passed, then it was repealed in a referendum. A couple years later, the legislature passed the law again, and the second time the referendum was soundly beaten. Now Maine is considering a full-fledged same sex marriage law.

Right after the Goodridge decision in Massachusetts legalized same sex marriage, it was unpopular with the public, but now that gay marriage has been established for four years, a majority of our citizens approve of the concept.

Keep up the good fight in Illinois. It will take time to build the bridge to marriage equality.

[gascelebrations]

I don't need to have my love for my partner validated by the government or a church. Thanks, but no thanks, for your symbolic and meaningless gesture. I'd no sooner be "married" than be straight.

[StevenKeirstead]

Well, not everyone feels like you do. Marriage offers many economic benefits, especially to widows or widowers, that would especially benefit poorer gay and lesbian couples and their children.

I don't count our marriage as one that is economically necessary. My husband and I are quite comfortable. One reason we got married was that if my older husband retires and we move to another state, our employer will pay retiree health benefits for him and his spouse, me. They would not do this if we did not choose to marry. I feel much more secure for our future knowing this.

I also think that being legally married will help me to take care of him in the future, especially if the federal government eventually recognizes the validity of our same sex marriage.

[CitizenGeek]

This is truly a pity. I think granting rights to same sex is very, very important and I hate to see it sidelined for anything, but there's solace in the fact that Illinois will probably pass it during the next term.