Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will today sign the state’s civil union bill before a “capacity crowd” of some 900 folks at the Chicago Cultural Center. Oh, the gays, always needing an audience. Update: The signing is done. The law takes effect June 1.
civil unions
Abel
Sure, it’s second-class, our own little “Separate But Equal” maybe. But it’s a start. Things will change. Greater acceptance is coming and yes, the opposition (NOM, FRC, the rest of the lunatic fringe) will get louder and more vociferous. They know they’re losing. Eventually, like the KKK, they’ll dwindle away to a hateful but mostly powerless remnant. Everything takes time.
Some of us, myself included, don’t have a lot of time left. But I’m grateful for the progress that’s been made in my 70 years.
Brian
Queerty never passes up an opportunity to let the best be the enemy of the good.
Shannon1981
This is something to be celebrated. Yes, I cringe at the “civil union” term too. But in order get this done, we somehow have to, at least for now, let the religious nutjobs think we think their marriage unions are sacred, from their book, and only for them.
Think about what this means for a minute. One more state where you won’t have to worry about your partner not being allowed at your death bed, being allowed to inherit your property, share your insurance,etc. And, if you like, you can TREAT the ceremony like a wedding. Its a real step in the right direction. Let’s not minimize that.
justiceontherocks
@Shannon1981: Exactly. There are some rights that go with civil unions in Illinois. It’s not just something to make the gays feel better.
It’s not the whole deal, and it’s not all that it should be, but it’s an important step.
Shannon1981
@justiceontherocks: Have you read the bill? I haven’t, as I am about to go to school, and haven’t had time…what all does it include? I know different states provide different rights with these things.
And even if in part it IS just something to make us feel better, its a helluva lot more than I’ll ever get here in bumfuck South Carolina. So I applaud it. Baby steps. Frustrating, but still going in the right direction. Hopefully in 20 years when I am pushing 50 instead of 30, this will all be a thing of the past.
thematics
The Illinois civil rights law is inclusive of opposite-gender couples as well. So, congrats to all our lesbian and gay and straight couples who decide to get ‘civil unioned’!
My my, that doesn’t have the same ring to it as ‘married’ but we’ll cope anyway! Here’s hoping more states start heading in the right direction. Illinois LGBs aren’t resting on their laurels and will continue to press on for full equality.
Nic
It’s not quite done yet, I don’t think. I’m pretty sure the signing starts at 4 PM.
jo
still doesn’t help w/me immigrating to be with my husband
Isaac
I applaud the Illinois legislature and the people who pushed them to take at least a step forward to full equality. I’m a little taken aback that Queerty and many of the other gay sites give such little attention to positive things that happen on the civil rights front. It makes me wonder if we, as a community, are too superficial to even appreciate a civil rights gain when it happens. Evidence of this is the paltry number of responses to this tidbit of good news and the bottom of the page placement of this on this site. Is the RuPaul Drag Race live blog a more important story than an entire state gaining civil rights? I guess it is to some.
thematics
@Jo: That’s true because immigration policy is handled by the Federal government, not the individual states. Can’t blame Illinois for that.