The vote was almost anti-climactic. It came after weeks of progress on GLBT rights, and the proposal itself was sponsored by the
board president. There were enough co-sponsors to assure passage, and it has easily passed out of main sponsor Mike Quigley's
committee.
So it was no real surprise when the Cook County Board July 1 passed a law providing for a domestic-partnership registry for
same-sex partners in this sprawling Illinois county, which includes Chicago.
Mount Prospect Republican Commissioner Carl Hansen was the most outspoken against the measure. He was joined by two
other Republicans in voting against the bill, which passed 13-3 with 1 'present' vote.
Peter Silvestri was the only Republican who backed the law, perhaps because his near-west suburban district includes a portion
of Oak Park—the most progressive community in Illinois, with the state's first partners' registry and the state's first openly lesbian
mayor, Joanne Trapani, who was at the County Board for the vote.
While a partners registry holds little legal weight, those against the trend fear it will lead to full legal marriage rights for same-sex
couples. Some supporters don't see anything wrong with gays and lesbians having access to the more than 1,000 federal benefits
tied to heterosexual marriage.
The 'affidavit of domestic partnership,' which will be issued by Cook County Clerk David Orr's office starting around Oct. 1 of this
year, will have some impact for partners, especially when applying for healthcare coverage from their employers—at least from those
who offer domestic-partner benefits. This is one more document that confirms they have a relationship and a financial vested interest
in each other's lives.
The certificate can also help when confirming a relationship in child custody cases, hospital visitation, and other day-to-day
incidents where same-sex couples have trouble being treated on par with straights.
Commissioner Quigley also noted that relief funds for Sept. 11 victims used partner registries to determine survivor benefits.
Quigley, from Chicago's North Side 10th District, received help from numerous gay and lesbian political strategists and activists,
many who attended the historic July 1 vote in favor of the registry. Among them were Brandon Neese, Deputy Cook County Clerk
under David Orr, who is in the process of creating the forms needed within 90 days to comply with the new law.
Cook County itself offers same-sex domestic-partners benefits to its own employees. Commissioner Quigley, in introducing the
measure, noted that about 200 of the Fortune 500 companies offer DP benefits.
Speaking Out
'In many respects ... this is mainstream, this is old news. The rest of the world is doing it,' Quigley said. 'Relationships aren't what
people conceived them to be in 1955 when they watched TV and Leave It To Beaver. We are a diverse country and a diverse world.
... I look out in this audience and see people that we work with—Kelly Cassidy [who works for Cook County State's Attorney Dick
Devine], Brandon Neese—and many others who have long-term, committed relationships, and they're beautiful.
'It's interesting to see how the editorial mood has changed,' Quigley continued. '[This measure] promotes monogamous,
committed, long-term relationships. When people say this has no value ... they forget how much ceremonies matter in everyone's life.
... Those ceremonies mark something very special in people's lives. ... It's clearly not government's role to decide and proclaim who
should love each other and how their relationship should go.'
After Quigley introduced the measure, Board President John Stroger tried to stifle debate, but Commissioner Hansen insisted on
discussing the motion.
'I'm going to make a statement as I am entitled to,' Hansen said to Stroger. 'I was not a member of the committee. ... And then I am
going to ask for a roll-call vote.'
Stroger said people are not going to back away from their vote just because it would be roll call—where their names would be
listed on either side of the debate.
'Gays and lesbians have a right to live as they choose,' Hansen read from his statement. 'They don't have a right to redefine
marriage for our entire society. This measure is contrary to the legally accepted concept of marriage as a union of one man and one
woman. This proposal goes beyond the notion of tolerance and into the arena of acceptance. This calls upon the county to endorse
this activity, when such endorsement is beneath the intention of government. This proposal is so loosely written as to allow as many
as six registrations in one year. Such a trivialization is unworthy of serious consideration or comparison to marriage within the law of
Illinois. Many commissioners endorsing this proposal do not themselves believe in it, nor are they reflecting the sentiments of the vast
majority of their constituents.'
In voting against the measure, suburban Republican Commissioner Elizabeth Gorman said her office received an overwhelming
number of calls against it.
'We are sent here by our voters to vote their will. I have received over 100 calls, e-mails, messages ... the overwhelming
sentiment was that this was not a good idea,' said Anthony Peraica. 'As representatives of the people from our districts we have an
obligation to consider their wishes ... . I believe we're obligated ... to vote their will, therefore my vote is no.'
Quigley said if he ever lost an election because he voted his conscience rather than what voters wanted, 'that is as good of a
reason for losing an election as you can have.'
Republican commissioner Gregg Goslin of Glenview voted present.
Among those speaking in favor of the bill was John Daley, who, along with Stroger and Quigley, were the main sponsors.
Co-sponsors who spoke up included Roberto Maldonado, Joan Murphy, Bobbie Steele, and Larry Suffredin. Other co-sponsors
were Forrest Claypool, Earlean Collins, Joseph Mario Moreno, and Deborah Sims. Jerry Butler voted in favor but was not a co-
sponsor.
'If the gay and lesbian community feels that this is just one little step in reducing discrimination against that community, I support
this ordinance,' Maldonado said.
'I too have been inundated with calls,' Joan Murphy said. 'I returned some calls this morning ... I told them all the same thing: I do
not believe it is government's place to legislate morality, to invade another person's privacy. ... My part is to help people who need
help, and I believe the gay and lesbian community needs help in order to get benefits that would be their's under any other
circumstances.'
'My upbringing ... has never taught me to judge people. ... This measure does not create marriage, and it does not even incur any
taxpayer cost. ... Because my family and my religious faith and my political philosophy has always taught me to respect people, I vote
yes,' said Pete Silvestri.
'The Supreme Court said it well last week when they indicated that the state has no business in a person's personal life,'
Commissioner Bobbie Steele said. 'We're not creating ... marriage. Just a symbolic indication that all people are created [equal] and
they should be able to do whatever it is they choose to do. ... I'm still struggling with discrimination. I'm a woman, and I'm a Black
woman. I feel it all the time ... I know how it feels to be discriminated against. For that reason I cast my vote for this ordinance, in hopes
that whatever barriers these people are experiencing, this will help ease some of the pressure.'
'This is an ordinance that makes me feel very proud to be able to vote for,' Suffredin said.
Also at the County Board meeting, longtime public health advocate Ruth Rothstein, 80, was honored upon her retirement. The CORE
Center which she helped create as a premiere national HIV/AIDS center will be renamed in her honor. Almost every commissioner
spoke strongly in support of the re-naming.
