Tag: Illinois

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Civil Unions in Illinois today – Celebrate!

More than 30 same-sex couples marked the first day of civil unions in Illinois by taking vows in downtown Chicago’s Millennium Park Thursday morning.

“For me it means a lot — making this commitment. But I also feel like we’re part of history here,” Shanelle Moffett told the Chicago Sun-Times as she prepared for the ceremony with her partner, Tenisha Watkins.

Couples could obtain civil union licenses beginning Wednesday at county clerk’s offices, but there was a one-day waiting period before ceremonies could take place. The Illinois civil unions law offers same-sex and opposite-sex couples the state-level rights and responsibilities of marriage.

While couples all over the state were taking advantage of the new law, the biggest event was in Chicago, the largest city in Illinois and home to the state’s largest and most visible gay population. At Millennium Park Thursday, judges and one minister presided over ceremonies, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus performed, and Illinois governor Pat Quinn and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel addressed the gathering.

I know I address the issue of equality a lot on this blog. When I began it, I never knew civil rights would be such a “front and center” issue for me here. But it’s been a natural evolution for me, and I realize how important equal rights are for everyone in this country.

Getting married in California – Michael and I are one of the 18,000 couples that got to keep our legal marriage status – was more powerful than I ever dreamed it would be. When you grow up in this country and realize you are gay, marriage equality is something you don’t dream to be a reality. But it is today. At least in some states. And I believe we will someday soon see marriage equality across the entire country. It’s just fair and right.

So celebrate for the kids in Illinois today taking their step forward. It’s a good thing.

Forward.

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Civil Unions begin in Illinois today

From the Chicago Tribune: Long lines are expected to form early Wednesday at the Cook County Clerk’s downtown office of vital records as couples from across Chicago gather to be part of a historic moment — the issuing of the state’s first civil union licenses.

The doors will open at 7:30 a.m. and the clerk’s office will celebrate what it calls “the momentous occasion” by awarding a special gift package to the first couple to get a license. Adding to the festive atmosphere, about 20 local businesses will be supplying gifts that will be raffled off to other couples in line.

As with marriage licenses, couples will have to pay a $35 fee and wait one day before they can hold a civil union ceremony. Couples who are already registered as domestic partners in Cook County but want to enter into a civil union will get a $20 discount and their domestic partnership will be automatically dissolved.

Let’s all celebrate today this step forward for Illinois.

Forward, kids.

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IL Catholic Charities end all adoption services to avoid allowing gays to adopt

From ThinkProgress: Following up on their threat, Catholic Charities of Rockford, IL, have voluntarily ended all their adoption and foster care services rather than comply with the civil unions law that will take effect next week.

In doing so, the organization terminated $7.5 million in state contracts, fired 58 workers, and likely displaced 350 foster children. Diocese spokeswoman Penny Wiegert attempted to blame the government for not protecting charities’ ability to discriminate against same-sex couples:

The law of our land has always guaranteed its people freedom of religion. Denying this exemption to faith-based agencies leads one to believe that our lawmakers prefer laws that guarantee freedom from religion.

But the decision had nothing to do with the children (who will do just fine with same-sex families) and nothing to do with religious liberty. It was a blatant choice to prefer discrimination and stigmatization of gays and lesbians over the ability to do important, charitable work.

This is only the latest example of how out of touch Church leaders are with its members. A March poll from the Public Religion Research Institute demonstrated that Catholics overwhelmingly support marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples (74 percent), but that number has been consistently over 60 percent since at least 2008. In Rhode Island, 63 percent of Catholics support full marriage equality, but Church leaders have been instrumental in holding back the progress of legislation there.

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Illinois Gov. to sign Civil Unions into law today

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will sign the recently passed Civil Unions bill today at a signing ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center at 4pm. With Quinn’s signature Illinois becomes the twelfth U.S. state or district to grant legal recognition to same-sex relationships through either civil unions or marriage. “It is great for Illinois and the advancement of true equality,” state Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) told ChicagoPride.com. Mell made an emotional plea to her colleagues as the civil union bill was coming up for a vote. “I am thrilled the the governor is signing this important bill into law,” said Equality Illinois co-founder and long time gay rights advocate Rick Garcia. “This bill brings us one step closer to full Equality in Illinois.” The new law becomes effective June 1, 2011.