Illinois Now Pronounces you Civil Union -ed!

June 2, 2011, by Melanie Nathan,

San Francisco
: “Today we celebrate and raise a toast to the couples in Illinois who have joined together in civil unions”, said Dave Janis-Kitzmiller, MEUSA’s Vice President. “Civil unions are an important stepping stone toward providing equal protection to all of Illinois’ families. We celebrate with all who have worked hard to enact the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act and who have had the courage to share their personal stories. We will continue to work with them so that one day in Illinois, marriage equality will be the law of the land.”

 Governor Pat Quinn signed the civil union legislation into law in January, making Illinois the seventh state, along with the District of Columbia, to give same-sex couples significant legal protections. These rights include the power to decide medical care for an ailing partner, the right to inherit a partner’s property, full hospital visitation rights and the right to be considered next of kin. “We are showing the world that the people of Illinois believe in equality for all,” Quinn said as he signed the bill.

“Today is a day for celebration of love and civil rights”, stated Pamela Brown, MEUSA’s Policy Director. “In the ‘Land of Lincoln’ all are to be treated equally, with humanity. President Abraham Lincoln’s noble vision has moved a step closer to fruition today with the legal recognition of same-sex couples and the rights and protections afforded to such families under the law.”

Founded in 2000, Marriage Equality USA is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to secure legally-recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation. For more information go to www.marriageequality.org.


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