Civil unions in Illinois may turn out to be more complicated than LGBTQ constituents expected. Representatives from Equality Illinois and Lambda Legal tackled questions from an audience of more than 40 at a Dec. 16 forum at Center on Halsted on the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. If one thing was clear, it was that neither audience members nor presenters were certain about how Illinois civil unions would be treated by employers in state or be handled by other states.
"It's not portable like a heterosexual marriage is," said Simon Aronoff, the Midwest regional community educator for Lambda Legal. Aronoff said that states that offered civil unions and same-sex marriages were more likely to honor an Illinois civil union than states that did not. But couples planning on leaving the state were urged to protect themselves by signing power of attorneys. Civil unions also won't allow same-sex couples to sponsor one another for immigration because civil unions are not federally recognized.
Still, panelists said, civil unions will allow same-sex couples most of the same privileges as married people.
"It appears that health coverage, if offered to a spouse [ by an employer ] , has to be offered to someone in a civil union," said Kevin Mork, the director of development for Equality Illinois. Mork expects those protections extend to couples for things like maternity/ paternity and bereavement leave. However, civil unions might not protect those employed by faith-based organizations. "This bill is very well-written to protect religious institutions," Mork said, citing the name of the bill which includes religious freedom protection.
But Aronoff said that no one can be refused a civil union on the basis of morality. "The law is crystal clear," Aronoff said. "There is no wiggle room for a clerk to refuse a civil union to a same-sex couple."
LGBTQ couples who have been wed or unionized in other states will automatically be entered into a civil union in Illinois, but can also choose to formally unionize in Illinois. The act might also allow couples who have been wed in other states to dissolve their marriages and unions in Illinois. Panelists said many questions about civil unions in Illinois would remain unanswered until the act becomes effective June 1.
The forum was third of more than ten on Civil Unions scheduled by Equality Illinois statewide.