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* As expected, Gov. Pat Quinn signed the civil unions bill into law yesterday…
“Here we are in 2011 on the eve of Abraham Lincoln’s 202nd birthday and I think this is very special,” Quinn said as 20 politicians joined him on stage and hundreds of supporters packed a hall in the Chicago Cultural Center. “We believe in civil rights and we believe in civil unions.” […]
The new law provides more than 650 spousal benefits and protections.
“If you enter a civil union, you can now visit your loved one in the hospital to make medical decisions and not be turned away. You can take time off to care for your partner and not lose your job,” Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. “You can build and protect your family.
* Just about everybody who was anybody in Illinois government was at the signing ceremony, including some Republicans …
Gov. Quinn then recognized State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, both Republicans who supported the bill. “Civil rights transcend political partnerships,” he said.
Rutherford was the last to address the crowd.
“I am from a small town in central Illinois and I am a Republican, and I am proud of it. As this bill move forward, I felt I just needed to do the right thing,” Rutherford said. “January 2009 I resigned from the Senate as the civil unions bill made its way through, and my very last bill of 18 years as part of the Senate was to vote yes on the civil unions bill.”
“I know that traveling all over Illinois that there are people who are uncomfortable but know this must go forward, I am proud to be from a small town, a Republican and to be here today.” […]
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Illinois) and state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and a number of other dignitaries also attended Monday’s ceremony.
* Back in the mid-1990s, the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed legislation that outlawed gay marriage and prohibited the state from recognizing gay marriages performed in other states. Illinois’ new civil unions law means that old law is now no more…
Supporters included Cindy Savage and Julia Zayas-Melendez of Rogers Park, who spent much of the ceremony with their arms around each other.
The couple married last year in Massachusetts, but the union was not recognized in Illinois. Now it will be.
“For us it means our marriage will be recognized by the state of Illinois as something other than just living together and sharing a mortgage,” Savage said. “On a larger scale, it’s one more step toward equality.”
* So far, there doesn’t seem to be any public resistance from local county clerks…
The law means couples will receive many of the same Illinois rights as married couples, said Michael, whose office has received about four calls asking how to obtain the certificates that become available June 1. Civil unions are available to all residents, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Livingston County Clerk Kristy Masching has been asked about the fee structure. The county collects $30 for marriage licenses, with $5 going to a state fund to combat domestic violence. Clerks are waiting to hear if the same $5 fee also will apply to civil union certificates, she said.
DeWitt County Clerk Dana Smith also is waiting for proper forms and plans to consult with the county board on fees. Her staff is ready to help anyone who comes to the counter, she said.
“We won’t treat anyone any differently than anyone else,” said Smith.
* Other states…
In addition to Illinois, twelve states plus Washington, D.C. have laws providing an expansive form of state-level relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington D.C. provide marriage to same-sex couples under state law. New York and Maryland recognize out-of-jurisdiction same-sex marriages, but do not provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples in state. Five other states – California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington – provide same-sex couples with access to almost all of the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Colorado, Hawaii, Maine and Wisconsin provide gay and lesbian couples with limited rights and benefits, not all rights provided to married couples. An attorney general opinion and subsequent court ruling in Rhode Island resulted in limited recognition of out-of-jurisdiction marriages of same-sex couples. California recognized marriage for same-sex couples between June and November of 2008, before voters approved Proposition 8, which purports to amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage equality. Couples married during that window remain married under California law, but all other same-sex couples can only receive a domestic partnership within the state. The state will recognize out-of-jurisdiction same-sex marriages that occurred before November 5, 2008 as marriages and those that occurred on or after November 5, 2008 as similar to domestic partnerships.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 10:38 am
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This was the right thing to do. This is about civil rights for all.
Comment by The Truth Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 10:44 am
Does anyone ever get tired of trying to link gay rights and recognition legislation to the civil rights movement? It seems to me that Governor Quinn’s referencing Lincoln was a bit over the top, but Quinn never knows when to stop babbling. He could have made more appropriate remarks.
Establishing civil unions for same sex couples in not on a par with, oh say, preserving the nation in a time of civil war and abolishing slavery.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 10:46 am
==Does anyone ever get tired of trying to link gay rights and recognition legislation to the civil rights movement?==
No.
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 10:50 am
Anonymous–
With all due respect, gay people have suffered persecution and denial of civil rights in this country since the founding. It continues on today throughout the country. So, I think Governor Quinn and the leaders of this state have shown outstanding leadership on this issue and are
staying ahead of the tides of history.
I am a married moderate republican!
Comment by The Truth Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 10:53 am
Good for them. This is not about anti-pro gay. It is about giving people more freedom over their life decisions and money, etc. I know there are many other issues, but allowing people to jointly enter into contracts is a good thing imo.
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 10:56 am
In a few years, we’ll be trying to remember what all the hubbub was about.
–“Civil rights transcend political partnerships,” he said. –
I’ve read that a few times, and still am not sure what it means, in context. Is that a shout out to the transcender community?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 10:57 am
to Anon at 10:46 am, no. deprivation of rights is not particular to one group only.
just so busting with pride to be from Illinois today. so many friends from other states looking at our state with envy for the good thing that the State finally accomplished. awesome.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:03 am
Glad he got this issue out of the way, now maybe Quinn can concentrate on actually trying to fix some real fiscal problems inIllinois. Not exactly sure how this helps getting Illinois’ fiscal house in order. The Gov’s ADD shows true when he ignores the big issues of the day, and hops around on issues that generate news stories but don’t put ONE PERSON TO WORK !!!!
Comment by NotRMiller Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:10 am
I was struck by rutherford’s involvement yesterday and the radio silence from social conservative groups.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:12 am
–The Gov’s ADD shows true when he ignores the big issues of the day, and hops around on issues that generate news stories but don’t put ONE PERSON TO WORK !!!!–
I’m not sure you want to be accusing anyone of ADD. There’s been quite a bit of action on the budget. It’s been in all the papers.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:13 am
== on the eve of Abraham Lincoln’s 202nd birthday==
What a perfect Quinnism!
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:14 am
I actually thought that the liberal media’s (I use that term tongue in cheek) depiction of civil unions and its limitations for those involved as shown on a recent Grey’s Anatomy was very compelling. This is a civil rights and equality issue and a more liberal, legal definition of marriage is sure to come. No one is separate and equal at the same time.
Comment by tubbfan Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:17 am
===but don’t put ONE PERSON TO WORK !!!! ===
Some bridal shops, wedding planners, caterers, tuxedo renters, etc. might vehemently disagree with you.
NotRMiller indeed.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:25 am
Civil unions are long overdue. Kudos to the GA for approving the bill and Gov. Quinn for signing it into law. And Tubbfan @ 11:17 is right: Separate is not equal.
As far as I can see, the only barrier to same-sex marriage here is bigotry. Hetero marriage has not suffered in any country or U.S. state that has legalized same-sex marriage. The sun still rises in the east, it still snows here in winter, and my marriage still isn’t affected by who sleeps with whom in another relationship.
Comment by Northsider Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:28 am
Civil Unions has been the conservative talking point alternative to Gay Marriage for some time, and is clearly the right thing to do allowing the majority of equal protections in committed relationships recognized by governments. It’s about time.
Comment by Captain Illini Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:33 am
meanwhile, in Bush Republican land, Barbara Bush, age 29, has just cut a video for Marriage Equality New York. It’s quite good and all over the Internet.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:36 am
Now all we have to do is remove marriage entirely from the purview of government, let churches do whatever they want and leave civil unions for everyone!
Comment by D.P. Gumby Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 11:51 am
In other news, hell froze over after the legislation was signed and Governor Quinn had to call out the National Guard. Police were notified that looting was occurring at the Food King grocery store.
Comment by Snark Alarm Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 12:04 pm
This is the day that hyperbolic overwrought handwringing ‘conservatives’ have been dreading.
The day that people realize that giving EVERYONE equal rights doesn’t actually result in the collapse of the republic.
It’s a good thing, and I’m glad the Gov signed it.
Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 12:08 pm
Wait a minute! He signed it and I didn’t notice it? Where were the flying horsemen of the Acopalypse? Where is Armageddon? I’ve been CHEATED!
And don’t try to tell me Gotterdamerung is starting with the blizzard. I refuse to believe that something as dramatic as the end of the world is going to involve an overhyped snowstorm!
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 12:18 pm
“seriously this is all about as important as authorizing vanity license plates.”
Tell that to someone who has been kept out of the hospital while their life partner died, or who is kicked out of the house their dead partner owned because he didn’t leave a will. I’m sure they’ll put it on par with vanity license plates too.
Comment by ChicagoR Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 12:34 pm
A couple years ago I got a call from someone in my church who was “concerned about the liberal direction” it was taking. He was concerned the church might lend its support to gay marriage, which he called, “the single greatest threat to the institution of marriage in this country!”
I pointed out that I have two brothers who are divorced. A third brother with a child out of wedlock. And a fourth brother who is gay and has been in a long-term relationship for over 20 years.
My response: “I have no doubt that at least one of my brothers is a threat to the institution of marriage but that I’m pretty certain it isn’t my brother who happens to be gay.”
It’s definitely long overdue. Kudos to all who were involved in its passage.
Comment by It's Long Overdue Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 12:45 pm
@Snark Alarm, nice Animal House.
Good on Illinois for this, and kudos to the Treasurer and the Comptroller for being on the right side of this civil rights issue.
Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 12:54 pm
Well said @It’s Long Overdue.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 12:58 pm
@cermak rd…..LOL! that reverend from Kansas is probably blathering on about the blizzard and the bill signing.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Feb 1, 11 @ 2:58 pm