Question of the day
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Interest is very high among Illinois residents who are considering obtaining civil unions after the new state law goes into effect on June 1. From Carbondale to Chicago, from Rockford to Rock Island, more than 1,000 people throughout Illinois have attended recent forums to learn how to take advantage of the new right for same-sex and different-sex couples.
“We have been fighting for this on the political front for years. Now that civil unions are almost a reality, this level of enthusiasm demonstrates this was not a symbolic battle but something that deeply impacted couples who are sharing their lives together yet lack legal protections that civil unions will provide,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois.
* The Question: Do you know of anyone who is planning to have a civil union ceremony?
- mr. whipple - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 2:39 pm:
A veteran state trooper was the first to ask a local judge to preside at her civil union, which the judge happily agreed to perform.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 2:43 pm:
None yet. I live in a very diverse subdivision in Springfield - and I don’t just mean color-wise - so it wouldn’t surprise me if any of my neighbors enter into civil unions in the near future.
- Retired Non-Union Guy - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 2:47 pm:
Know one couple considering it …
- Jake From Elwood - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:02 pm:
Yes. On the first possible day no less.
- macon county - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:03 pm:
Macon County Clerk’s Office is openning up at midnight on June 1st with three couples already have made arrangements to apply for civil unions.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:04 pm:
I don’t, which kinda puzzles me.
- GoldCoastConservative - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:09 pm:
I do not. But I do wish anyone that is planning one the best of luck!
- Montrose - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:10 pm:
I don’t either, which puzzles me as well. Of course, I am hesitant to ask, because then I just feel like I digging for info on the status of their relationship.
- Not a Newcomer - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:16 pm:
I know one couple who is planning a big ceremony in their backyard in June, and another who is planning on just doing the legal part at the courthouse.
- Not a Newcomer - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:19 pm:
Rich, you live in Springfield. Springfield is not exactly welcoming to the gay community, and despite the State House being controlled by Democrats, it isn’t very welcoming to openly gay employees/staffers/lobbyists either. Just saying…
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:23 pm:
I do know that the DuPage County Clerk is ready to issue the licenses.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:27 pm:
The Civil Rights Agenda is hosting a mass civil union ceremony/fundraiser at the Chicago History Museum on June 3. It’s $50 to go to the party and $75 per person if you plan in being civily unioned at the event.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:27 pm:
Forgot the link: http://jointcra.org/index.php
- CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:32 pm:
We don’t either, may be can carpool with Capt Fax and crash some cool parties next week!
- been there - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:33 pm:
yes, my daughter and the father of her two children are “engaged to be civily united”, they tell us. they’ve never married because, to continue quoting them, “marriage is a patriarchal institution”.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:39 pm:
===carpool with Capt Fax and crash some cool parties next week===
Sounds like a plan.
- Spfld Westie - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:48 pm:
I’ve been asked if my partner and I will be getting one a lot. No plans at this point though… holding out for the real deal.
- Rep, Greg Harris - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 3:57 pm:
I know plenty. I may go broke buying toasters and place settings.
- Seriously??? - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
Yes. Friends got engaged the day it was signed into law.
- Louis Howe - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:03 pm:
Nada…Doesn’t come up in conversations.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:05 pm:
Two men across the street, two women down the street who have two adopted kids, one who’s graduating in a couple of weeks.
In Oak Park, there’s quite a buzz at the Buzz Cafe.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:08 pm:
I know one couple who went to Canada to be married, and another who went to Iowa. I don’t know yet if they’re planning to have Illinois formalize their vows, but would I have to get them another gift if they do?
- John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:18 pm:
Yes, my sister, Johanna Jacobina will, just as soon as she finds the right girl.
- Huh? - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:25 pm:
My sister and partner have an October ceremony planned.
- Edge of the 14th Ward - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:28 pm:
A friend of mine had a ceremony a few years back. He said if he ever got the chance to be legally married or enter into a civil union that he would fill out the required paperwork, but he would still consider that day to be his wedding day.
- Kara - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:29 pm:
Yes, there may be issues down the road with benefits if they do not.
- MrJM - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:29 pm:
I don’t. But I don’t know any straight couples planning to get married either. (I’m afraid I may have moved into that “more funerals than weddings” stage of life.)
– MrJM
- D.P. Gumby - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:38 pm:
I was going to, but my wife said no.
- Earnest - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 4:50 pm:
Yes, two friends from downstate and a former co-worker.
- Mark - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 5:06 pm:
I don’t know of anyone planning to get a civil union ceremony.
I am going to a wedding in June.
- maddem - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 5:14 pm:
Interesting, especially the heterosexual couple. Can persons in a civil union file a joint Illinois tax return? Can heterosexuals in a civil union file a joint federal income tax return or is this prohibited by DOMA? Do they have to file separately at the federal level but joint at the state level? How does that work?
- LouisXIV - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 5:35 pm:
I know many couples that are planning on getting the license. Don’t know about ceremonies and I have not been invited to any.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 5:44 pm:
It’s just occurred to me the one couple I know who would jump at this moved to Florida in March. Because they’re big Log Cabin Republicans and were mad about the tax increase.
I should probably refrain from sending the email I’m composing in my head.
- CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 6:04 pm:
Rep Harris
We have plenty of gear left over from some less than civil unions….as soon as we can climb into attic we will pass them along as your friends get unionized!
Cheers
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 6:15 pm:
No, but I know a few who are planning on an uncivil dissolution:-)
- cover - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 6:40 pm:
No, I’m with Louis Howe, and I may have reached the same stage of life as MrJM.
- Northside Marine - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 7:07 pm:
We went thru all the friends weddings 10 years ago; I welcome the chance to go to some more parties once this goes into effect. Any chance to take the Mrs. out for a good party… But all the guys dress much better than me.
- david starrett - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 7:46 pm:
Am coupled for nearly ten years with someone not my gender. We’re looking at trusts, wills and durable powers of attorney for each other. The “power of the plug” is not a small thing to think about and not a small responsibility to hand to someone else. A civil union would simplify much of this, and give me a shot at decent health insurance and her a shot at a decent inheritance.
This is not just about same-sex couples.
- Happily Married - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 7:55 pm:
My spouse and I were married (not civilly united, but married) in Connecticut in 2009 - nobody at the city hall batted an eye when 2 males walked in and requested a marriage license. We’re glad to know that our union will finally be recognized in our great State. Nobody we know (gay or straight) is planning on a civil union although we would certainly enjoy the party!
- peacelover - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 8:07 pm:
I am!!!!
- Engaged - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:04 pm:
We are going down to the court house right at 8:30 a.m. on June 1st. I am curious to see how many people show up. We are having a small ceremony in our own back yard on June 4th with family and friends.
- It's Just Me - Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 9:14 pm:
47th Ward: the Iowa couple doesnt need to do anything. Dont know about the Canadian couple.
- It's about time - Thursday, May 26, 11 @ 3:34 am:
My partner and I plan to make it official after more than 22 years.