Results tagged “civilunions”

State Sen. Heather Steans made headlines when she filed the Equal Marriage Act (SB 2468), a bill introducing the topic of gay marriage to the Illinois state senate for the first time, yesterday.

With all the action over Prop 8 earlier this week, we admit that we lost track of the impending deadline of HB 2234 until stalwart reader Rich reminded us of it. Also known as the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, it would recognize the civil union of two people, regardless of sexual orientation. It would also recognize a same-sex marriage or civil union performed in another state, such as Iowa, as a civil union within Illinois. While the deadline for voting on issues in the General Assembly for this session is Sunday, this specific bill has a deadline of today. We'll be tracking it this afternoon to see what, if any, action is taken.

Today in Iowa, the same-sex marriage ban was officially lifted, meaning same-sex couples could apply for marriage licenses. A judge also waived the three-day waiting period for one couple, meaning they could get married today, the state's first same-sex marriage since the ruling. In the wake of these events, the Tribune has published an editorial in favor of civil unions in Illinois, which also coincides with a bill currently before the Illinois General Assembly.

After the recent decision to allow gay marriage in Iowa, there's been cause for optimism amongst supporters in Illinois. Whispers grew a little louder on Monday when Gov. Quinn, speaking at Harper College in Palatine, indicated that a civil union law may not be far away for Illinois. Said Quinn: "I think that's probably where the legislature is headed in the state." With a civil union bill currently in the General Assembly, it's a distinct possibility. However, there are indications that a law allowing gay marriage isn't in the state's near-future. The Times and Democrat - a paper based out of South Carloina, of all places - addressed the issue this week.

House Bill 2234, known as The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, made it out of committee this week, and will now go before the full General Assembly for debate. The bill, which guarantees some of the rights and responsibilities to persons in civil unions that are currently granted to persons in civil marriages, including hospital visitation, the right to make decisions about a partners medical care, and survivors benefits. The bill gives religious institutions the right not to solemnize civil unions. HB 2234 does not legalize gay marriage.

 

The arrest of Governor Rod Blagojevich yesterday may have been the final nail in the coffin for a proposal to allow civil unions between same-sex couples in Illinois. The bill, the Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Unions Act, was first introduced in February of 2007 and has been stalled in the state legislature ever since. Now time is running out for the bill, as the current General Assembly will expire at the end of the year. With only two remaining legislative days left, some political watchers say it is unlikely that the proposal will gain traction as the state tackles a growing budget crisis that so far includes a $2 billion deficit.